Alistair Morris from For Goodness Shakes! notched up 558 points to win the Mountain Hardwear Open 5 in Sutton Bank, North Yorkshire Moors.

After the original December date was postponed due to heavy snow, more than 200 competitors braved the ice-cold weather, although the clear, crisp weather made for spectacular views as the racers navigated their way around the mountain bike and running routes. 

The event was the second race in the Mountain Hardwear Open 5 Winter series, where competitors have five hours to visit as many points (controls) as they can on the map. Some controls can only be collected by mountain bike and others only by foot. 

Racers have to decide whether they choose to run or cycle first, playing to their strengths and then consider which checkpoints to visit in the allocated time.

James Thurlow director of Open Adventure said: “It’s great to get back to Sutton Bank after being thwarted by the weather in December – the location, not normally on a runners or mountain bikers map, provided some amazing views and great competition in what is a very accessible part of the country.”

Kim Collison finished with 510 points to come second in the men’s solo category, while David Lawrance was third.

The mountain biking section of the course took cyclists up onto the escarpment and around the valleys and lanes feeding the River Rye. The run was the least icy section of the course – but made up for the lack of ice with heaps of mud.  

Chris Hope and Andy Wrigley scored 485 to win the men’s pairs, while Karen McDonald’s 435 points were enough for victory in the women’s solo division.

Helen Lambert and Barbara Lonsdale’s 410 points sealed the win in the women’s pairs and Steven Gregory and Molly Ralphson won the mixed pairs by 60 points after finishing with 430.

Three races remain in the series, head to www.openadventure.com to sign-up.