SUB-ZERO temperatures could not stop 350 hardy runners taking to the hills for the fourth instalment of the Moyleman.

This year’s Lewes off-road marathon belonged to a husband and wife team, as Lewis Sida stormed home in three hours, 13 minutes – closely followed by wife Helen in three hours, 52 minutes.

Course record-holder Mike Ellicock had to settle for second place with a time of three hours, 22 minutes.

But any hopes of personal bests faded into the background in a gruelling race that only went ahead after a last-minute inspection – and proved too much for several seasoned marathoners.

Light snowfall and plunging temperatures led race director Duncan Rawson to warn runners not to underestimate the scale of the challenge ahead.

In an email sent out to competitors after he had marked out the course on Saturday, he wrote: “The Moyleman team are pretty seasoned runners who know the terrain extremely well. We experienced the conditions on the top of the Downs today as harsh, with strong and very cold northeasterly winds.”

So it proved, with second-placed Mike later declaring it “the worst race I’ve ever run”. A number of experienced runners were forced out in the latter stages, as their best-laid plans went awry in vicious winds.

Many of those who made it to the finish line in Harvey’s Brewery yard, off Cliffe High Street in Lewes, had heeded the director’s advice to run in pairs.

But there was no shortage of valiant solo efforts to report.

First-time marathon runner Mary-Louise Clews, who was featured in this column two weeks ago, made it home in about four and a half hours, with last week’s interviewee asthmatic ultra-runner Mike Young also completing the course.

But one of the most eye-catching achievements belonged to Jonathan Richardson, who was completing his 200th marathon – with the race number 200 on his chest.

Duncan said: “This was a very tough race.

“We’ve been blessed with pretty good conditions until this year, so this was a first.

“But this is the spirit of Chris Moyle. Special mention must go to the marshals, who braved brutal weather to make sure as many runners as possible made it home.

“Today wasn’t about times. My priority was just to get everyone back safe.”

Hove runner Moyle died of stomach cancer at the age of 42 nine years ago.

But friend and running partner Ash Head, who was described as “devastated” to miss this year’s race for work reasons, founded the testing trail marathon in his memory.

It has snowballed since its inception four years ago, with places selling out in record time this year.

The majority of the proceeds go to the Martlets Hospice in Hove, where Chris spent his final days in 2009.