HUNDREDS of runners braved the elements earlier this month to take on the gruelling Dumyat Hill Race.

Athletes from all over the United Kingdom descended on the Menstrie hill on Wednesday, May 8, to tackle one of the area’s most difficult sporting events.

More than 400 hardy souls battled chilling winds and driving rain to take part, with many sports students from the nearby University of Stirling also taking part.

And it was two students who won the races in their respective categories with Kirsty Dickson of the University of Glasgow who was first placed female athlete in this year’s race, in 43mins 13secs,

The University of Edinburgh’s Alexander Chepelin won the men’s race and overall title, in a time of 32:39 – 16 seconds shy of the course record set by Murray Strain in 2012.

The popular event was conceived in 1972 following a £1 bet by a university psychologist who claimed no one could run to the top of Dumyat and back to campus in less than an hour.