MUDDY Punch Bowl Challenges tested the spirit of more than 250 runners to the full, last Sunday.

Proceeds from the popular annual 10k, 5k, 2.5k and 1k event, mounted by The Haslemere Border Athletic Club and the National Trust Black Down and Hindhead Supporters Group, go towards enhancing the area and coaching budding junior athletes.

Supporters group secretary Phillida Hall said: “This is the fifth anniversary of The Punch Bowl Challenges and it’s a very special year.

“Our team of rangers, volunteers and supporters, have achieved an amazing feat by being awarded an upgrade in status for the Punch Bowl, following an inspection earlier this year by Natural England.

“Since the 1980s, the area has been in ‘unfavourable recovering’ condition, and the upgrade follows extensive regeneration and is a justified reward for all the hard work, funded in part by Black Down and Hindhead Supporters Group and events such as the challenges.

“The challenges course is a mixture of bridleways and footpaths, with marshals and signs to guide runners up hills and down dales, finishing at the viewing point beside the National Trust Devil’s Punch Bowl Cafe.

“We also had a 50-metre dash for the U6s, and this was a real highlight, with parents and their cameras to the fore. Our thanks go to our sponsors, Tindle Newspapers, The Royal School, Barons of Hindhead, Keats estate agents and Tesco.”

The winners of the different distance races and their times were:–

Men’s 10k: Duncan Selmes (39mins 35secs), James Adams (40mins 3secs), Colin Butfield (40 mins 56secs);

Women’s 10k: Donna Read (47mins 33secs), Alexandra Vargen (49mins 46secs), Philomela Bennett (50mins 11secs):

Veterans’ men’s 10K: Jon Fairs (43mins 52secs), William Galvin (45mins 50secs), Neil Strachan (48mins 21secs);

Veterans’ women’s 10K: Cathy Chaplin (51mins 41secs), Tamara Lake (50mins 57secs), Zodwa Chasokela (79mins 25secs);

Senior men’s 5k: Ross Wayne (20mins 58secs), James Johnson, Andy Oxley;

Senior women’s 5k: Sofia Shearring, Tara Oxley, Joanna Scott;

Boys 5k: Nicholas Hobbs (20mins 11secs),Ben Dennter, Jack Smith;

Girls 5k: Abigail Barton (22mins 58secs), Tiffany Read, Hannah Wardill;

Boys 2.5k (age 9-11): William Bailey (10 mins 5secs), Isaac Maurizi (11mins 7secs), Jamie Barton (11mins 8secs);

Girls 2.5k: Yasmin Gubby (11mins 5secs), Freya Hampshire (11mins 6secs), Evie Pickford (11 mins 18secs);

Boys 1k (6-8): Ruam Watt (3mins 49secs), Thomas Love (4mins 17secs), Freddie Bailey (4mins 19secs);

Girls 1k: Elodie Pearcey (3.53), Katie Love (4.14), Rose Bridger (4.21).