RUNNERS competing in Sunday's Loughrigg-Silver Howe Chase had to contend with driving snow and a 'howling' gale.

But despite the conditions some athletes still turned out without the proper kit to deal with the conditions and were told by the organisers that they could not take part.

"Somebody described it as chasing yetis and we had one runner wearing a pair of ski goggles, that is how bad it was," said organiser Jon Broxap. "A few of the runners also went walkabout. Amazingly, some people were just turning up in shorts with no head gear, map, compass or whistle. A couple of people were not allowed to run."

Dark Peak's Rhys Findlay-Robinson (1-18-00) led home the 60-strong field from Staveley-based Bingley Harriers athlete Rob Jebb (1-24-08) with Keswick's Phil Winskill (1-24-24) in third. He was shadowed home by the Ambleside pairing of Josh Hubbard (1-24-28) and Chris Stirling (1-24-38).

Helm Hill's Sharon Taylor was the first woman home in 1-31-56 with Keswick Catherine Spurden (1-32-27) and Ambleside's Hazel Robinson (1-32-33) not too far adrift.