Nearly 200 fell runners reached for the skies as they raced up and back down the Sugar Loaf in two separate races.

No less than 86 of them donned head torches to do the Night Sugar race, which came five days after the daylight version.

First home in a field of 105 in the six-mile daytime race, with a climb and descent of 1,590ft starting from Pantygelli, was Oliver Beale of Westbury Harriers in 43 minutes 20 seconds.

Second was Builth’s Robi Woods in 43.51 just five seconds ahead of Westbury’s Finn Goodhew in third.

Joseph Reardon of Beacons club Mynyddwyr de Cymru was fourth in 44.25, 16 seconds up on Chepstow Harriers’ Paul Murrin, with Wyndham Turner of Abergavenny-based Mynydd Du eighth in 45.28.

Mynydd Du’s Helen Brown was fastest woman in 53.45, 36 seconds ahead of Cardiff Runners’ Nynke Kulper in second, with Chepstow Harrier Niki Morgan third in 55.35.

Fastest over-50 man was Paul Dodd of Harriers in 52.32, while best over-70 was Don Powell of Basingstoke in 61.20.

Mynydd Du’s Rona Davies took the women’s over-60 crown in 68.45.

Event spokesperson Alan Stone said: “It was one of the best attended Winter Sugar Loafs I’ve been involved with. Lockdown has made you all keener.

“The weather gods smiled kindly upon us and while it was blustery on the top and a tad chilly in the cross wind, everyone got around in a reasonable time.”

Five days later, it was the turn of Night Sugar, a 5.5-mile race in the dark from Llanwenarth and back, with an ascent of 350m.

Mynyddwyr de Cymru’s Ben Mitchell proved quickest in 33.27 with Mynydd Du’s Wyndham Turner second in 36.55.

Fastest woman Megan Carter-Davies of Mynyddwyr de Cymru was an amazing third overall in 37.37, 48 seconds up on Mynydd Du’s Jon

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Second best woman and fastest over-40 female was Mynydd Du’s Helen Brown in 46.19, exactly a minute ahead of third fastest Kani Hinshelwood of Highgate Harriers.

Quickest over-50 and 10th overall was Mynydd Du’s Ian Whistance in 42.14, with Simon Darke of Mynyddwyr de Cymru taking the over-60 crown in 48.40.

Tessa Lewis of South Wales Orienteering Club lifted the women’s over-50 title in 54.17, with Mynydd Du’s Rona Davies lifting the over-60 class in 57.40, and David Rutter the men’s over-70 in 73.56.

They can do it all again in the Skirrid Hill Race on Saturday, December 18.

Go to the Welsh Fell Runners Association’s Facebook page for more details.