Hexham Courant nostalgia: Mad March Mare at Hexham Race Course

The event was organised by Stocksfield-based company Challenge Northumberland and proved to be a big hit with participants who enjoyed the thrill of challenging themselves - despite crossing the finishing line caked in mud.

The course was 10K and there were 40 natural and man-made obstacles that participants needed to wade through, climb over, crawl through, or navigate around.

A runner takes on the tyre wall. (Image: Paul Norris)Runners from far and wide who took to part in the mud run endured the obstacles which ranged from a natural lake, waterfall and woodland, to cargo nets, hay bails, and a tyre wall.

Participants during the Mad March Mare. (Image: Paul Norris)Participants included an army representative team from Albermarle Barracks, while there was also a 30th birthday party team, and university teams.

Participants on the speed slide (Image: Paul Norris)Some runners supported the event's main charity, the Newcastle-based Sara's Hope Foundation, which provides holiday breaks for children living with cance

The sun came out at Hexham Racecourse for the Mad March Mare. (Image: Paul Norris)

At the time, Neville Duncan, a director at race organisers Challenge Northumberland, said numbers were slightly down on the previous Mad March Mare, in 2017.

But after the setback of last year's cancellation, he was delighted with the turnout.

"The weather was great this time," he said. "It started to get a bit windy towards the end but all in all it was a great day.

Clean and dry participants start their adventure. (Image: Paul Norris)

"Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, and as well as local participants, we had people taking part from as far afield as Yorkshire, Derbyshire, London, and from Scotland.

"To attract such a field after what happened last year was great, and to attract so many people for a winter event is something we are very proud of."

Wading through water at the Mad March Mare. (Image: Paul Norris)

In 2019, there was an amended course this time around, and Neville said natural features enhanced the event in different ways.

He explained: "People love the waterfall and the wooded area. As well as natural obstacles, the scenery is absolutely stunning there.

"It was a good test. Parts of the course were man-made. There's a 20ft high structure with netting on, and there's a lot of variety."

Participants taking on the speed slide (Image: Paul Norris)