ALL conquering Langdale runner Sabrina Vergee added another honour to her list when she was first international woman home in the Original Everest Marathon, which is generally agreed to be the world's highest race.

This was just a short outing for Sabrina who relishes long routes, having recently won the Montane Spine Fusion– a 268 mile race along the Pennine Way.

Ambleside AC’s Tom Gibbs was also in stunning form, finishing the race in 5 hours, 23 minutes.

Race director Ali Bramall from Sedbergh took a party of British athletes including 13 from South Lakeland out to Everest to join the international competitors, spending time acclimatising before the race with expedition doctor Wendy Dodds from Milnthorpe.

"We’re talking the highest marathon in the world, starting at just below 5,200m where the air is thin," said Ms Bramhall.

"The first part of the course crosses glacial moraine and this is followed by steep, stony descents, frozen bog, steep steps and some delightful paths, easy in their width and gradient.

“The unusual hazards on the route are the Yak trains.

"The question is, do you wait for them to pass or risk negotiating their long, wide horns? There’s a definite degree of luck in your race if you manage to avoid the Yaks crossing the numerous wire bridges spanning the Dhuh Khosi river.

“Theoretically, it’s all downhill as you lose altitude, but the sting in the tail is the steep ziz-zag descent from Tengboche, landing runners at the foot of a 330m climb through the forest. It’s probably the hardest climb people will do in their life.”

Gibbs said: "The hardest parts of the race were watching the local runners charge off at the start, having to walk stuff I’d usually easily run, and getting cramp on the Thamo Loop," said Gibbs.

"The best bits were the technical sections, especially down and beyond Dhugla, and getting so much encouragement from the locals and trekkers on the route.”

There was a fantastic turnout for last week's Scout Scar event.

Close to 300 runners took part with excellent fields for the accompanying junior events.

Matthew Knowles of Lancaster & Morecambe AC came home first in the main event in a time of 27 minutes and 23 seconds, a full 50 seconds ahead of Helm Hill's Mark Addison.

Addison's Helm Hill colleague Kelli Roberts was first lady back in 29th position overall, while KCAC runner Archie Peaker won the under 13 race which attracted more than 50 entrants.