AFTER a 20-year absence all the sights and sounds of a competitive marathon returned to Windermere at the weekend.

More than 1,000 runners turned out to compete in the Brathay Windermere Marathon and the event was declared a major success by the organisers.

The race was hosted by the Brathay Hall Estate and chief executive of the Brathay Hall Trust Godfrey Owen said: "Despite the rain over the last few days, over 1,300 competitors still turned out.

"Plus, we were joined by several hundred spectators throughout the course who had a huge and positive impact on all the runners."

Julian Mawson, 36, of Leeds, was the winner in a time of 2hrs 47mins 32secs, with Adrian Hartveld, 47, second in 2-56-16, while third place went to Gary Woolgar, 46, of Worthing in 2-56-35. Fastest woman was Lynn Manir-Jolley of Wigan Phoenix in 3-07-11.

Prizes were presented by legendary fell runner Joss Naylor, and Godfrey Owen and John Lee of the Brathay Hall Trust.

Mr Owen said the occasion was made even more special by the Brathay Challenge - in which six athletes ran an incredible ten marathons in ten consecutive days.

In the process, the Brathay Challenge team smashed a world record and raised significant funds for the Brathay Hall Trust.

The final race of the challenge took place on the day of the main marathon, but with the six runners (seven men began the challenge but one dropped out) setting off one hour ahead of the rest of the pack.

The fastest ten marathons in ten days challenger was Simon Moseley, 41, who runs for Blengale Runners in Gosforth, and whose fastest time of 3-25-00 was actually for the final and tenth marathon.

He ran for a total of 37 hours, 41 minutes and 14 seconds during the challenge.

Both the revival of the marathon and the ten marathons in ten days were in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Brathay Hall Trust, and in aid of its charitable work with children and young people from around the UK, helping them to overcome difficulties arising from their personal and social circumstances.

For more on the exciting return of the marathon, see Sport in The Westmorland Gazette, out on Friday.