A snowstorm added to the test of endurance for the final seven competitors in an ultra-marathon race near Cromwell early yesterday afternoon.
They were the remainder of a field of 30 who started the Northburn 100- a 160km race, on Northburn Station - at 6am on Saturday.
Race director Terry Davis said the cold blast prompted a check of all the remaining competitors.
"It was raining and snowing on the tops and the competitors were crusted with snow on the south side of their bodies.
We took extra vehicles and people up to check on them all straight away, to see how they were and if they wanted to carry on or be ferried back to shelter."
"They all decided to stay in the race and we allowed them to carry on, but only with a companion runner beside them and with vehicles trailing."
