ALMOST 1000 runners completed a marathon around England’s longest lake for the 12th ASICS Windermere Marathon on Sunday.

It was also the final marathon for the largest field yet to tackle the Brathay 10in10 - 10 marathons in 10 days challenge.

It was also a day to remember Brathay supporter Matt Campbell, who died during the London Marathon. His appeal stands at over £364,000. Every runner ran their own #MilesForMatt including those in the junior races and the guided trail run as well as the marathon runners.

Those on the marathon course could remember Martin and Matt Campbell as they completed the final 3.7 miles of the marathon – the distance Matt had left to run in London.

First back in the marathon was Neal Emmerson, with a time of 2:44. He ran his first 10 miles in 59 minutes, neck and neck with last year’s fastest runner Julian Goudge who went on to finish second.

The first female was Sally Ford, racing for the first time for Kendal Athletics Club. As an FV40 her time was an impressive 3:18.

The first local runner back, and collecting the Martin Campbell Memorial Shield, was Benjamin Hodgson in 3:06. Last year it was Martin’s late son Matt Campbell who claimed the title.

The 10in10 results were equally impressive, even more so because of the incredible challenge the runners face of completing the same marathon, also the Windermere Marathon course, every day for ten days. Brathay’s head of fundraising Scott Umpleby said it’s a credit to the sports therapy students from University of Cumbria that all 20 runners completed their 262 miles.

The fastest lady in the 10in10, a FV45, was Lianne Warren with a time of 43:30.

The two 10in10ers who are local to the course, Duncan Evans, who works at the Ryebeck Hotel in Bowness, and John McCann, a member of Kendal AC, ran well. Sixty-five-year old John’s total time was 50:35 and Duncan’s was 55:15.

Scott Umpleby expects the day to have raised over £120k for the charity’s work with children and young people.

Visit brathaychallenges.com for more information.