RUNNERS braved extremely windy conditions on the Malvern Hills for the 63rd running of the gruelling 6.7-mile Worcestershire Beacon Race.

The men’s winner was Dan Geisler from organisers and team champions Worcester Athletic Club in 47 minutes seven seconds ahead of Black Pear Joggers’ Nick Drabble in 47.32.

There were 29 runners from Malvern Buzzards who boasted the biggest turnout ahead of celebrating their first birthday.

Buzzards’ Jack Dickenson was third overall in 47.40 with Keith Evans fourth and first man over 40 in 47.49.

Their runner Sarah Armstrong finished first woman in 57.58 while Dominique Kent clocked 59.53 to win the women’s over 45 prize.

Out of 18 Malvern Joggers, the first home was Martha Worthington who was first female over 35 in 1.03.22.

First woman over 55 was Malvern's Julie Caseley in 1.12.08.

Second woman overall was Tamara Freeman from Bromsgrove and Redditch AC in 59.00 with Worcester's Holly Love third in 59.44.

The men's over 70s honours went to Black Pear's Rollo Rumford in 1.09.28 and Worcester's Liz Bowers claimed the women's over 65s prize in 1.07.09.

Geisler helped Worcester to the team accolade alongside sixth-placed Richard Walsh in 48.26 and Rob Jones in eighth in 49.20.