LAST Saturday, Setanta Triathlon Club held its third annual Christmas Pudding 10k Run in Carlingford, when fifty hardened runners donned their Santa hats, braving the cold snap that besieged the village, and headed for the hills.

The run was to take them out the Rooskey road, then onto open mountain, up through Maeve's Gap, at which Karl Kildea was to be crowned 'King of the Hill' being the first runner through.

From here it was on to Golyin Pass and back to the finish line outside Dan's Stone Wall Café in the village.

The conditions were difficult with the early morning frost, the ground frozen under foot, but everyone managed to arrive back safely, with several chosen routes to the finish!

Coffee and mince pies awaited all finishers, thanks to Dan and prize giving took place once the final finisher arrived. The prizes of Christmas puddings, sponsored by Georgina, were then awarded.

Owen Martin was crowned 'Big Puddin' for 2009 and Laura O'Driscoll was named the 'Lady Pudd'.

Other awards went to David McKeown, Ciaran Gormely and Gerry Kenny and Niall McCabe. In the ladies Ruth Francis, Joleen Mallon, Sinead Hearty and Maria O'Hagan collected prizes.

Thanks to all who participated, and those who helped at the finish, to Dan and the staff at Dan's Café, to Georgina for the puddings and ' Chip It' for the timing system, providing finishing times for all those who participated.

The entry fees of were donated to Dundalk Special Olympics and Irish Cancer Society.