Judge and world famous mountaineer and author, Simon Yates, described the 2012 choices as "One of the most difficult ever, given the exceptionally high standard of entries right across the board" following the announcement of the Festival's annual film gongs which saw Autana take the Best Mountain Adventure Award and Crossing the Ice scoop the Grand Prize.

Paul Diffley celebrates Kendal double for Wide Boyz

The annual awards ceremony brought a memorable four days to a close in what will long be remembered as a "classic" year for the world's biggest event of its type; a year that also saw the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of Pete Boardman and Joe Tasker on Everest celebrated by the selection of Andy Kirkpatrick's Cold Wars for the prestigious award named after them. The Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature took centre stage for the first two days with a special 30th anniversary lecture following the spectacular Town Hall opening, bringing an uparalleled collection of legendary names together for a series of 15 minute talks to a packed house. Chris Bonington, Charles Clarke, Stephen Venables, Doug Scott, Andy Cave....the names just rolled off the tongue like a Mountaineering Hall of Fame and that was just the first day!

Andy Kirkpatrick scoops a 2nd Boardman Tasker Prize just days after announcing he's quitting writing book

Away from the awards Kendal thrilled the crowds that poured in by the thousand over 4 days with a non stop stream of stunning films, inspiring talks and a social scene that's become legendary in its own right. Venues were packed for session after session as Olympic and Paralympic medallists rubbed shoulders with Sunday walkers and weekend climbers in a programme that took in adventure after adventure and even managed to introduce a star of the future when Andy Kirkpatrick's 13 year old daughter Ella joined him on stage with stand-up comedian Ed Byrne. As if climbing El Capitan isn't enough at such a tender age she managed to upstage her illustrious companions with a uniquely dry sense of humour that's probably broken more than a few ribs in laughter.

Andy Kirkpatrick and Ed Byrne joined on stage by Andy's 13 year old daughter Ella

In a world that seems to be changing at an ever increasing pace Kendal still retains a special quality that's made it the biggest event of its type in the world, with an atmoshere of friendliness that keeps you warm through the cold winter months that follow. Forget People's Choice, Kendal is the People's Festival! It's the place to be on every level, from big films to big personalities, big announcements to big crowds and big smiles to the biggest of parties it delivers year after year after year.

Big audiences packed every session

Note: This article was restored from the archives. It's published creation date is inaccurate.