ANNIE Conway produced a record-breaking performance in the Lakeland Trails series opener at Cartmel Racecourse on Saturday.

The in-form Ambleside AC smashed the ladies course record in the 18km Cartmel Trail Race - knocking two minutes off Lizzie Adams’ previous mark to record 1hr 15min 10secs.

It was a wonderful display of running that saw Conway finish in a staggering fifth place overall.

More than 1,100 runners took part in the competition held in glorious sunshine. And there was another Lakeland girl stole the limelight in the morning with Christina Wiejak, from Barrow & Furness, winning the 10km Cartmel Trail Run in a new course record of 43mins.04secs in an impressive sixth place overall.

Winner of the men’s 18km Cartmel Trail Race was Christopher Ashworth (Clayton Le Moors Harriers), in 1hr 10mins 16secs, with Ambleside AC’s Ben Abdelnoor runner-up in 1hr 11mins 14secs and Eden Runner’s Jonny Cox third in 1hr 13mins 40secs.

Ambleside AC’s Martin Cox, former world mountain running grand prix champion, won the men’s 10km Cartmel Trail Run in the morning in 37min 46secs, from Henry Valentine in 38min 43secs and Paul Graham in 39mins 49secs.

Dry weather leading up to the event meant the official course going was firm, and soft only in places. Every competitor was rewarded with an event finisher's T shirt, along with a photo memento of themselves from out in the course.

The race attracted runners from across the UK along with overseas visitors from Germany, Holland, France, Belgium and Ireland.

Deco Delight Jazz Band played live throughout the day, and singer/songwriter Pete Lashley performed songs from his recent Lakeland Trails album before the prize giving, and even found the energy to run the 18km beforehand.

The event was supporting the local Allithwaite King George V Playing Fields Committee charity, with many competitors running for regional and national charities.

Event partners included sports brand ASICS, Cartmel Racecourse, Mountain Trauma Rescue Services, Bowland Communications, John Bagge Associates, James Kirby Photography, VO2 Max Timing, Trailrunning.co.uk, Trekandrun.com and VO2 Max Events

The next event in the Lakeland Trails series is at Hawkshead on April 18 and there are only limited places left for the third event in the series at Staveley on May 9.

RESULTS

Cartmel Trail Race 18km

Men - 1. Christopher Holdsworth, Clayton Le Moors Harriers 70.16, 2. Ben Abdelnoor, Ambleside AC 71.14, 3. Jonny Cox, Eden Runners, 73.40, 4. Breton Holdsworth, Clayton Le Moors Harriers, 74.07, 5. Dan Golding, Ambleside AC, 76.15.

Women - 1. Annie Conway, Ambleside AC 75.10 (course record), 2. Lou Roberts, Ambleside AC 86.51, 3. Abigail Tiplady, 89.39, 4. Sarah Kay Norman, 89.55, 5. Raquel Gutierrez Abad, 91.02,

Cartmel Trail Run 10km

Men - 1. Martin Cox, Ambleside AC, 37.46, 2. Henry Valentine, 38.43, 3. Paul Graham 39.49.

Women - 1. Christina Wiejak, Barrow in Furness, 43.04 (course record), 2. Suzanne Toppin, Penrith, 45.46, 3. Helen Woodley, Backbarrow, 46.52