A 72-year-old world-class athlete from Gargrave is leading the field in an international indoor rowing competition.

Peter Covey is ranked first place in the masters class of the Concept II online competition.

The contest, which is being played out in gyms across the world, takes place from May to April every year with the fastest overall contestant awarded the title of indoor rowing champion.

Peter, whose time of seven minutes and 32 seconds over 2,000 metres is about 27 seconds faster than his nearest rival, is a qualified athletics coach who took up indoor rowing just two years ago.

“It is of course only against people of my age group and there will be people who row in their garages who won’t have entered,” he said.

He is also leading a triathlon competition, including a two-kilometre run, four-kilometre cycle ride and 2,000 metre row, at his gym, Canalside Fitness in Gargrave, where he is competing against people 50 years his junior.

Peter’s big passion is fell running and he won the world championships for the over 65s held in Keswick two years ago. He runs about 25 to 30 miles every week and a favourite pastime is repetition work up nearby Sharphaw – involving running up the hill several times.

“Being in competition with others is not what it’s all about with me, it’s more about competing with myself and doing the best I can,” he said.