THE annual Lakes Charity Classic saw paragliders from across the UK meet in the Lake District to fly together and raise thousands for charity.

Held last weekend in Grasmere and hosted by the Cumbria Soaring Club, the contest attracted around 100 competitors.

Cumbria Soaring Club treasurer Richard Jennings said just over £5,000 was raised. The charities to benefit will be Kendal Mountain Rescue; Blackwell Sailing for the Disabled at Windermere; The Great North Air Ambulance; The Mary Hewetson Hospital at Keswick; Royal Lancaster Infirmary’s Bay Hospital Charity and the Lake District Foundation towards reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld path.

“We always ask the two competition winners to nominate a charity close to their hearts, so this year, it is our pleasure to also donate to the Midland Air Ambulance and the RAF Benevolent Fund,” said Mr Jennings.

The A competition group, the more experienced and highly certified pilots, was led by Ed Cleasby. Participants followed a scenic zig-zag course around Skiddaw on Saturday, and about a third of this group were able to reach their goal.

The less experienced B competition group walked in the Langdales, and were tasked with trying to fly back to Ambleside, landing at the Roman Fort.

Two of the five pilots in the B group to reach their goal were women. Cumbria Soaring Club chair Jackie Knights said: “There really aren’t very many female paraglider pilots so it was fabulous to see that 100% of the women in the B competition got to goal!

"I hope this sort of result will encourage more women to get involved in the sport.”

This year, for the first time, the Lakes Charity Classic hosted a team from Flyability – a charity which works to help people with disabilities take to the air and get involved with hang-gliding and paragliding.

Although it was too windy to fly on Sunday, a ground-based paragliding race was arranged. Pilots ran with their paraglider wings above their heads, some of them blown off course to the amusement of spectators.