A PACKED field of more than 500 runners braved the wind and rain to compete in the annual New Year’s Eve 10k in Little Downham.

The field lined up ready for the starter’s gun at 11am, with competitors arriving from all over the country to take part in the popular annual event, including 17 pensioners and one competitor aged 79!

Competitors from Salisbury, Stockport and Wigan joined the hundreds of local competitors, with the Ely Runners and Fenland Running Club out in force.

The winner of this year’s race was Will Clarke of Cambridge Tri Club, who came home in 32mins 23secs, closely followed by Kevin Skinner, of Newnham and Essex Beagles, in 32mins 30 secs and Will Mackay, of Bedford and County AC, in 33mins 37secs.

First lady home was Daisy Glover, of Ely Runners, in 36mins 3secs, followed by Philippa Taylor in 37mins 19secs and Lucy Gossage, of Cambridge Tri Club, in 38mins 1sec.

The 10k course starts in the heart of Little Downham before taking runners out through Downham Common, Pymoor and Westmoor Common before arriving back in the village once more.

The course and event record holders are Will Clarke, of Cambridge Tri Club, who came home in 30mins 5secs in 2009 and Felicity Milton, of Woodford Green AC, who came home in 34mins 20secs, also in 2009.