THE Swaledale Marathon celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer.

The event, launched as a challenge walk in 1979, sees 500 runners and walkers tackle a 23.2-mile off-road course, including 3,586ft of ascent.

An army of volunteers is checking bookings, arranging access, liaising with police and landowners and organising tallies, food, equipment and prizes in time for the event on June 12.

Swaledale Outdoor Club, formed in 1966, organised the first marathon after members Stuart Pailor and Alan Morrish operated a checkpoint on the Teesdale Marathon.

SOC founder John Deighton said: "Stuart and Alan thought we should organise something in Swaledale and about 130 people took part in the first one. We always envisaged it as an annual event but we had no idea it would prove so popular."

The route was pioneered by Mr Pailor and other club members and has changed little over a quarter century. Winner of the first event was Tony Cresswell, organiser of the Teesdale Marathon.

Word of the Swaledale event soon spread and 300 competitors lined up in 1980.

"We realised it was growing rapidly and we had to limit it to 500 participants to prevent undue erosions of tracks and paths and to ensure we could feed and cope with everyone," said Mr Deighton.

The original event was a challenge walk but, as enthusiasm for running grew, the emphasis changed and now 60pc of participants are runners.

"A lot of people do a bit of both, walking up the hills and running down them," said Alison Adams, SOC chairman, who oversees the organisation and takes part in the event.

The route originally began in Reeth but the start has been moved a mile down the road to Fremington to lessen congestion. Competitors head straight up the 1,000ft climb on to Fremington Edge before dropping into Arkengarthdale and ascending another 1,000ft to Great Punchard Head. They later face a similar climb from Gunnerside.

The finishing line is at Reeth Memorial Hall, where all who complete the route receive a pottery item - a goblet this year - and a badge, certificate and hot meal. There are trophies for winners in eight categories.

The SOC produced commemorative T-shirts to sell for the 25th marathon which were pre-ordered by entrants.

Two people have taken part in every Swaledale Marathon - John Barnes, from Stockton, and Ray Stevenson, from East Cowton.