Running: Robinson breaks 24-year Derwentwater course record

Robinson, from Bowness, was gunning for her sixth successive win in the race - which set off from Keswick town centre - and she was after Lorna Irving’s record run of 56.59, set back in 1986.

She said: “I have been trying to get the record for quite a while and come close a few times so it is really lovely to get it at last, but it was a difficult run.

“It is a really beautiful course but after halfway it is uphill for a couple of miles. It is really testing and will find you out whether you have been running on the fells or the road.”

Robinson, a doctor who is studying and working in Sheffield, was fresh from her eighth place run in the BUPA Great South Run in Portsmouth the previous weekend, and came in 36 seconds ahead of Irving’s time in 56.23.

Alan Ritchie, who will hand over the organisation next year after 20 years in charge, praised Robinson’s achievement, having watched her close on the record in recent years.

He said: “It shows how difficult a run it is that the record stood for so long. Very few females have gone under one hour and this was Rebecca’s sixth win in a row.

“She has kept edging closer and we knew she had it in her sights and was determined to get it.

“I would like to see her back next year as she is still capable of going better. I saw her watching the clock as she got close and you could see her delight when she broke the record.”

And as Robinson prepares for April’s Virgin London Marathon, her aim now is to focus on building her runs back up.

She added: “I am focusing on winter at the minute and trying to get some longer runs in to build back up. I had a rest after Barcelona and the last few races have probably been the most difficult.”

The men’s race was won by James Douglas, from Border Harriers with Dufton’s Morgan Donnelly finishing second just a minute behind representing Borrowdale FR.

Ambleside’s Ben Abdelnoor finished 11th in 56 minutes.