The crowds cheered the runners to the finish line

Tim Davies from Welshpool, completed the race in one hour, five minutes and 57 seconds - one minute and four seconds faster than his winning time last year.

Over 400 people took part in the 27th international challenge to the highest summit in Wales and England at the weekend.

The 10 mile endurance test to the mountain's summit and back started from the village of Llanberis.

Despite the rain a large crowd came to watch the teams who had representatives from Ireland, Italy, England, Scotland and the Isle of Man among them as well as local teams.

Some of it is on the flat where you need to be a fast runner and then the rocky bits suits fell runners, so you need to be skilled at both Fell runner, Ross Powell

Ross Powell, a member of the Eryri Harriers, said the conditions this year were the best he can remember in 15 years.

"There was hardly any wind and it was slightly overcast with some drizzle which helped keep us cool," he said.

"I like the Snowdon race. It is unique and combines road and fell running.

"Some of it is on the flat where you need to be a fast runner and then the rocky bits suits fell runners, so you need to be skilled at both."

He says he was pleased with his result of one hour, 37 minutes and 54 seconds.

"It's better than last year but not my best time, but I was very pleased it was under one hour, 40 minutes," he said.

Mr Powell, from Llandwrog near Caernarfon, who is 47, says that, if all goes well, he intends to carry on competing for many years to come - particularly after hearing the eldest competitor this year was a 73-year-old.

The race's record has been held for 18 years by K Stuart. He completed the challenge in one hour, two minutes and 29 seconds in 1985.