AN Ambleside AC athlete has been crowned world mountain running champion.

Sarah McCormack of Windermere grabbed second place in the penultimate event at the Drei Zinnen Berglauf race in the Italian Dolomites on Sunday, which was enough to clinch the title.

Kendal AC runner Sarah Tunstall, of Kirkby Stephen, won the 17km race, which involved around 1,300m of ascent, in a new female record time.

“It was a stunning race,” said McCormack, who runs for Ireland. “Sarah ran really well for a convincing win and I was relieved to hang on to second with some strong runners from Austria, Switzerland and Czech Republic.

“My best race in the series was definitely my win at Snowdon. I had a couple second places and a fourth and I was really just trying to avoid injury and run consistently throughout the summer so I’m pleased with how it turned out.”

And McCormack’s club mate Neil Talbott completed a great week for the club by winning the 65th Lake District Mountain Trial, completing the classic course in 4hr 36min, his second win in the event.

Starting and finishing in Langdale, the course covered a minimum distance of 27km and involved 2,150metres of climb.

Jack Wright (3rd) and Matt Reedy, MV40 (15th) together with Talbott claimed the team trophy for Ambleside, while last year’s winner Nicholas Barber of Helm Hill Runners was 10th.

International orienteer Hollie Orr, running for Black Combe Runners was first woman (20th o/a) in 5hr 40min. Superveterans Leigh Warburton, Bowland Fell Runners and Allan Miller, Kendal AAC were 1st and 2nd MV60s.

On the medium length course, over 19km with 1,500 metres of climb, Ambleside AC’s Steph Jones (5th), Michelle Foxwell, FV40 (8th) and Alice Fellbaum (20th) took the team prize.

Rebekah Beadle of Lakeland OC was 1st FV50; Sally Hempsell, Ambleside, 3rd FV50; Ali Bramall, Ambleside, 3rd FV60 and Derek Fryer, Lakeland OC, 3rd MV60. Ben Kent, U21, of Helm Hill won the 12.6km Short course in 2hr 28min, just 4 seconds faster than Joe Todd, MV40, of Kendal AC. Carol McNeill of Lakeland OC was 1st FV70.