THIS weekend 83-year-old running legend Joss Naylor MBE completed a fell race he failed to finish in his 20s - the 1962 Lake District Mountain Trial.

On Saturday Joss set off from Kirkstone Pass in heavy mist to complete the missing section. His 12.5-mile route to Patterdale took him via the high fells of Stoney Cove Pike, Thornthwaite Crag and High Street.

Conditions improved as Joss descended into Patterdale at Angle Tarn, via Place Fell.

But in September 1962 severe weather, and cramp, forced him to retire early. Out of the 55 who entered the Lake District Mountain Trial only one finished, George Brass, who ran for Clayton-le-Moors.

“I've now completed 51 mountain trials, but 1962 is the only year I started and didn't finish," said Joss. "On that day the weather was dreadful, with a storm coming through as the race got underway.

"Most of the field retired early on, it was that rough. It was cramp that got me and I dropped down off Dollywagon with George Rhodes and John Disley.”

Joss was also back to remember George Brass and to raise awareness and funds for a Lake District charity that is close to his heart, the Brathay Trust at Ambleside.

Joss is an active supporter and patron of its annual 10 marathons in 10 days challenge. He has raised more than £50,000 to help change the lives of some of the most disadvantaged young people they help.

Brathay’s head of fundraising Scott Umpleby, who joined Joss on Saturday, said: “Joss is still an inspiration to us and this time it was for tackling incredibly challenging terrain in his 80s.

"Not only was it steep on the ascent and descent but he kept up the same brisk pace regardless of conditions underfoot - from very uneven surfaces to heather and loose stone.

"It took him six hours and 20 minutes, including a stop for a sandwich and we ended the day in the pub where Joss enjoyed a Guinness.

"It was also great to see so many people turn out to support him including his contemporaries Peter Hall, Peter Nelson and Ken Ledward."

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so via Joss’s JustGiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joss1962.