The Red Kite Challenge hosted the first fixture of the 2012 Welsh Trail Running Championships in cold and breezy conditions on Saturday.

The Red Kite Race formed the medium category event in the championships which will look to capitalise on the popularity of the Commonwealth Ultra Trail Running Championships, held at Newborough Forest on Anglesey last September.

Tim Davies (462) and Richard Roberts (505) lead the Red Kite Race.

Richard Roberts (Eryri Harriers) was a convincing winner of the Red Kite Race, beating experienced mountain runner Tim Davies (Maldwyn) with Jonathon Pugh (Builth & District) in third place. Jonathon took the Welsh title on the tough and testing eleven mile route in 1:12:47.

Aileen Fox (Durham City) was the ladies champion with second placed Kate Beecher (Les Croupiers) adding the Welsh title here to her Welsh Inter-Regional Mountain Running title from a week ago.

The Ras Yr Diafol (Devil's Race) is a sister race to the Red Kite and was held the following day on May 6th over an eighteen mile course. The combined winners from the two races are crowned champion of the ''Red Kite Challenge''.

Dylan Lewis (Sarn Helen) and Katie Beecher were the men's and ladies champions respectively at the Devil's Race. Third placed Gareth Green (San Domenico) had placed eighth the previous day and so became the overall champion in the men's event with Kate Beecher a clear winner in the ladies category.

Race organisor Dic Evans (right) receiving a meritorious award from Welsh Athletics' Head of Athletics Development, Steve Brace. (Pic by Al Tye).

Pictures of the Red Kite Challenge can be found here courtesy of Gwynfor James.

Pictures taken by Alastair Tye can be found here.