Jez Bragg

Novice Fellsman entrant Jez Bragg took the winner’s trophy at his first attempt this weekend, storming home in sometimes appalling weather conditions to finish the  course in less than 11 hours.

The 28-year-old Warwick athlete battled sleet, high winds and freezing conditions in the Yorkshire Dales to take the Fellsman Axe, beating 381 other runners and walkers across the roof of the Pennines in one of the country’s toughest challenges.

Leading woman contestant was seasoned 46-year-old long-distance expert Sarah Rowell with a time of 13hrs 45mins.

Stuart Walker, the Pudsey-based runner who is aiming to complete a 2,250km (1,400-mile) journey from the Isles of Scilly to Shetland, using only muscle power, also completed the 100km (62-mile) event, which takes in 10 Yorkshire peaks and 3,350m (11,000ft) of ascent, and was run for the 47th year.

More than a third of those who started dropped out at some point along the route, leaving 243 who crossed the finish-line in Threshfield in times from Bragg’s winning 10hrs 50mins to more than 28 hours for the final hikers.

Read a fuller-length report, including an interview with the winner, in our Fellsman feature.