MORE than 230 competitors took part in La Sportiva Lake District Mountain Trial from Grasmere showfield on Sunday.

Participants set off at minute intervals into rain, wind and mist which slowly improved over the course of the day.

The 16.5 mile "classic" course involved 7,000ft of climb with runners visiting Fairfield before crossing over the road at Dunmail and reaching High Raise, finally returning over Silver Howe.

Nicholas Barber, of Pennine Fell Runners, who won the race over a course shortened by bad weather last year, proved he could triumph over the full distance, finishing first in four hours 21 minutes. He was 12 minutes ahead of Jack Wood of Ilkley Harriers.

The first woman was Helen Bonsor, of Carnethy, in five hous and 51 minutes while Ambleside AC took the team trophy.

There was a special moment when 82-year-old Joss Naylor, who first took part in the Trial in 1960, successfully completed the 'short' course in just under seven hours.

The mountain trial was first staged in 1952 and is a test of endurance and navigation.