THEY may have taken it easy but Pickering Running Club duo Lynn Humpleby and Kim England still took a joint runners-up spot when they took part in the Falcon Flyer.

The Flyer is a Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue 20-mile challenge event and it took place on such a windy day, said England, that the runners "often felt as though they might take off".

The wind had made for a chilly start from Ravenscar village hall as runners and walkers began the challenge, which is not classed as a race but rather a navigation exercise as participants have to find their way to a series of checkpoints before being rewarded with pie, peas and a certificate at the end.

Said England: "Taking in bleak moorland, farm tracks, forest trails and disused railway lines, the event was varied and interesting, requiring good map reading skills - or in some cases, a friendly runner with good knowledge of the route."

Nick Cousins and Mike Wilson were first back for PRC, coming joint fifth overall, finishing together in three hours 20 minutes.

Cousins took 16 minutes off his time from last year’s event and looked fresh at the finish. Upping his mileage while in training for a second Yorkshire 3 Peaks race, Wilson also took the event in his stride.

Enjoying the fuel on offer, the trio of Humpleby, England and Jayson Cavill took a more leisurely approach, using the event as navigation practice and consuming their fair share of Jaffa Cakes and Jelly Babies at each checkpoint.

They finished together in four hours 17 minutes - good enough for joint second place in the ladies' category.

England added: "Celebrating her second year of running on the day, this was the longest distance Humpleby had run for almost a year and she did so with grit and determination - vowing to come back again next year."