AN athlete who is used to scaling the heights has won a gruelling race near Petersfield for the third year running.

More than 200 athletes from across the south converged on East Hampshire last Sunday to compete in the annual Butser Hill Challenge.

Last year's competition was almost a washout with

entrants facing gales and heavy rain on their run

around the beauty spot.

But this year's renewal was another breeze for

endurance runner James Baker, who held off stiff

competition to complete a hat-trick of titles.

Baker, of Chichester Runners, finished more than

a minute ahead of his closest rivals, Julian Manning and Stuart Holloway.

The annual event is one of the most popular hill races

in the south and attracts runners of all ages and abilities from across the south from as far afield as

Hertfordshire, the Isle of Wight and Wiltshire.

For full story, more pictures and a results round-up, see this week's Petersfield Herald.