DESPITE difficulties in reaching the starting line due to flooded roads, a total of 90 hardy hill runners completed Saturday's Greenmantle Dash above Broughton.

The annual hill race was won by defending champion Andrew Douglas of Inverclyde.

Understandably in the conditions, he was around 20 seconds down on his winning time of 2015.

Shettleston's Tom Owens flew down the hill to take second place with Alsadair Anthony of Ochil Hill Runners taking the bronze medal.

First veteran home was Stuart Sanderson of Penicuik.

The tricky natural obstacles of streams and stone walls, heavy and slippy underfoot conditions, and the occasional downpour made life difficult for all of the competitors.

Jill Stephen from the Hunter Bog Trotters produced a strong run to break the women's tape, just over a minute in front of Penicuik's Gillian Cairns and Chloe Cox of Lothian.

The three-miles race, which includes around 200 metres of climbing, is the popular start to the hill running calendar each year.

With welcome sponsorship from Broughton Ales there were plenty of refreshing prizes on offer at the finishing line.

The Greenmantle Dash is organised each year by Carnethy Running Club.