Despite its reputation as a grueling trail run, the XTERRA James River Scramble 10K proved the perfect start of Richmond's eclectic two-day outdoors sports festival, the James River Adventure Games.

Charlie Hurt, of Scottsville, VA took first in the men's division with a time of 36 minutes 30 seconds. Dustin Whitlow of Ashburn, VA was second at 36:50 and Lewis Martin, of Charlottesville at 37:08 in the rough and tumble ramble through Richmond's James River Park System that drew 1,250 registered entrants.

In the women's division, Emily Ward outran fellow Richmond resident Laura Hamlin for the win. Ward's time was 43:52 to Hamlin's 44:14. Lindsay Roberts of Fredericksburg, VA was third with 44:40.

"Richmond is a great city for outdoors sports lovers," said Jon Lugbill, Executive Director of the Richmond Sports Backers, organizers of the James River Adventure Games. "And today a lot of people got to experience that firsthand. We had close to one hundred kids and parents running in our one-mile trail run, the Kids Scramble Jr. Everyone had fun."

The day's second largest event was the XTERRA Urban Assault Mountain Bike race with 164 finishers. Local hero Jimmy McMillan, of Glen Allen, VA, won the men's pro race that wound for 15 miles over Richmond's famed technical single track trail system. He finished with a time of 1:03:21 and then proceeded straight to his wedding. Jeremy Senn, Charlottesville, VA (1:04:47) was second and Ken Jefferson, Newport News, VA (105:50) was third.

Richmond's Anthony Brown won the expert men's race (1:03:21) ahead of Tom Richeson, of Mechanicsville, VA (105:28) and Wiley Mosely, of Lathan, NY (1:07:05). In the women's expert race, Richmond's Paula Smith (1:21:40) topped Irene Bierie, of Hampton, VA (1:25:53) and Terri Spanogle, of Alexandria, VA (1:27:13).

Sam Perry, of Richmond, won the single speed class with a time of 1:10:57 ahead of Chris Redlack (1:16:15) of Silver Spring, MD and Ethan Lindbloom 1:19:09, also of Richmond.

In addition to the trail running and mountain, there were competitions in rowing, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, open water swimming and trials biking. And the Richmond Times- Dispatch Interactive Area drew hundreds of adventure seekers to free tryouts of sport tree climbing, raft training, kayaking and mountain biking.

The James River Adventure Games feature the XTERRA Sport Off- Road Triathlon, the XTERRA East Championship, the Southern Ski Boats Classic Wake Boarding Competition, and the Jammin' on the James Kayak, Canoe, and Raft Boater Whitewater Race. For more information go to www.sportsbackers.org.