HEBDEN’S Victoria Wilkinson, above, was left reflecting on the medal chance that slipped away in the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships at Permana in Italy.

She was in third place until the final descent in the32k race but was passed by bronze medal winner Denisa Dragonir from Romania and Petra Tratnik of Solvenia.

Fifth place was still the 38-year-old’s best finish in the event which was run in wet and testing conditions.

Her time of 4hours 1minute 25 seconds put her two minutes away from the bronze medal and five minutes adrift of the winner Silvia Rampazzo of Italy.

“I must admit I feel a little disappointed,” said Wilkinson after returning home.

“I was in the bronze medal position on the third and final descent, but I simply wasn’t as strong on that part of the race as the other two girls.

“It was my best finish and in many ways I was pleased with the way I ran, but it is just frustrating that the margin between myself and the medal winners was relatively small.”