FIRM underfoot conditions and sun overhead made for fast times and fantastic performances at this year's Three Bridges Races.

The event, now in its 36th year, appears to be going from strength to strength with the number of competitors and spectators increasing yet again.

Craig Bell from Forfar broke the tape in the main Three Bridges Open Handicap, sponsored by Davie Duthie Autos, to lift the George Pennel Challenge Shield and collect the £125 prize money.

Setting off with a determined pace, Craig kept good time at the end of the first lap, lying third at the bell.

He gradually increased the pace to move into the lead by the time the runners reached Fotheringham bridge for the second time.

And Craig managed to increase his lead in the closing stages to record a wining time of 21.40 minutes.

In the Youths Open Handicap, sponsored by Tweed Line Taxis, Liam Irvine took advantage of a kind handicap to stay out in front throughout.

Running an excellent race from start to finish, Liam crossed the line in a time of 10.54 minutes.

The schools relay races, sponsored by Paul and Louise Spence, proved to be an excellent warm up for the cross country events.

The support of the parents and teachers encouraging the performance of their children help produce the atmosphere that remained all afternoon.

In the Primary Schools Relay race for P4/P5 with schools less than 120 pupils, the winners were Eddleston Primary School, with Newlands finishing runners-up.

The P4 children from schools with more than 120 pupils race was won by Priorsford.

The final relay race was the P5 from schools with more than 120 pupils race. Priorsford also took the honours.

In the Primary Schools Race for Girls, sponsored by Kingsmuir Construction Ltd, Priorsford A took the winning team trophy, with Esme Minto from Priorsford taking the individual honours for the second year in a row. and collect a voucher supplied by TweedLove.

Kingsland finished runners-up with Kingsland B taking third.

The Primary Schools Race for Boys was a very tight contest.

Over 80 boys took part which meant the race started at a very fast pace as they all jostled for position.

After a really close battle between the top three teams it was Kingsland who were the eventual winners, Priorsford A came second and Priorsford B came third.

The star of this race was individual winner, Ross Wolfenden for West Linton Primary, running a sub-10 minute race.

The last race of the afternoon was the team race.

The race had its largest entry for years including six adults.

Ages ranged from six-years old to the more mature Round Tablers, all running the 1.5 mile distance.

The winning team called themselves Thunder, made up of pupils from Priorsford Primary School.

The individual winner was eight-year-old Toru Keen, a P3 pupil at Priorsford, who ran an excellent race.

This event was sponsored by the Beltane Committee and the winners voucher was donated by Rogersons of Peebles.