RECORDS were sent tumbling at one of the toughest races in the Borders at the weekend - which this year was one of the muddiest yet.

Despite torrential downpours of rain making underfoot conditions treacherous, Lee Kemp, a member of the GB ultra trail team, completed the Three Peaks Ultra in a time of four hours, 56 minutes and 36 seconds - beating the previous course record by more than five minutes.

Second placed Ian Symington, from Penicuik, also surpassed last year's winning time by almost two minutes.

Meanwhile, experienced long distance runner Lorna Mcmillan, originally from Traquair, set a new ladies' record, finishing in five hours and 58 minutes - ten minutes faster than the previous record set in 2013.

Starting and finishing in Jedburgh on Saturday, the 38 mile race, which included a climb over all three Eildon hills, by Melrose, passed through Maxton, St Boswells, Rhymers Stone, Bowden and Newtown, before retracing its steps along the St Cuthbert's Way.

A record number of runners, more than 200 in total, from all over the UK and further afield took part in this year's event, now in its fourth year.

Among them were those taking part in the inaugural Three Peaks Relay Race - with both selling out months in advance.

Bride-to-be Sandra McDougall celebrated her impending nuptials to Ian Beattie, chairman of Scottish Athletics and one of the races many volunteer marshals, by running the route in her hen gear - complete with wedding veil.

It was her last race as a single lady and marshals were instructed to bang pots as she ran past the checkpoints.

The ultra marathon is part of the Jedburgh Running Festival weekend and a growing number of entrants also took part in the half marathon the following day to complete what has become known as the Dirty Double.

And interest in the event, which has a ten hour time limit, is expected to grow further still as this year's ultra was filmed for The Adventure Show - BBC Scotland’s flagship outdoor events programme.

However, for the second year running, signs marking the route were tampered with sending some runners in the wrong direction.

Reflecting on this year's ultra, race director Noanie Heffron told the Border Telegraph: "It went fabulously - it was bigger and better than last year and the runners set new course records.

"Lee Kemp took about five minutes off the men's previous best time. He would have been a lot quicker but he got lost due to people stealing signs again, which is slightly disappointing."

Nevertheless she added: "The ultra is a big part of the running festival and in terms of support and people who know about it it's probably bigger than the half marathon now. We could get more runners, we could get 500 runners if we wanted, but the narrow trail can only take so many people.

"The relay race was really good this year. It gave us a lot more support at the checkpoints. All the relay runners were in shouting at people, cheering them on, it was fabulous."