GORGEOUS late summer sunshine greeted over 1,300 competitors in the 10th International Lakeland Trails Festival in Keswick on Saturday.

For the first time at a Lakeland Trails event, the overall number of women (55 per cent) was higher than men (45 per cent), and local girls were top of the podium in both the 15km and 10km events.

James Scott-Buccleuch, Stockport Harriers, won the blue riband 15km Derwentwater Trail Race in 59.44.

Runner up was Ambleside AC’s Jon Deegan, in 64.16 (1st Vet 40) and making the podium in third place was Steve Brennan, from Ulverston in 66.31 (1st Vet 50).

Local girl Annabel Holmes, from Keswick AC, dominated the women’s 15km Race, winning both overall and first Lady Veteran 40 in 73.24.

Runner up was Ackworth Road Runner, Rebecca Winter in 74.43, with Rachel Fairclough, St Helen Striders, in 75.39.

The oldest competitor in the race was 75-year-old Charm Robson, from St Bees Triers, who won the Lady Veteran 70 in the 15km race.

Representatives from 10 different nations took part in the event, including USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Holland, Germany, Belgium, France and Ireland.

in the morning's 10km Derwentwater Trail Run, Christina Wiejak from Barrow and Furness AC broke the women’s course record with 39.52 and finished a staggering second overall.

Only another course record by Paul Graham, from Derwent AC in 36.40, prevented Christina from winning the 10km event outright.

Penrith’s Suzanne Toppin was second woman in 43.38 and Helen Woodley, from Ulverston, finished third in 43.47.

Mayor of Keswick, Paul Titley, welcomed the runners to Keswick and presented the prizes, including a special donation to Keswick Mountain Rescue of £850.

There are still a few places available for the next Lakeland Trails in Coniston, on October 3, which takes in a panoramic circuit around the lower slopes of the Old Man of Coniston. Enter online at www.lakelandtrails.org