Hebden runner Victoria Wilkinson proved that age was no barrier as she romped home to claim the women's title at the Three Peaks race in the Yorkshire Dales at the weekend.

The 39-year-old Bingley Harriers athlete won the race for the third year running and although she failed to set a record time like last year, the victory was good preparation for the World Mountain Running Championships in Poland in June.

She won in a time of three hours, 22 minutes and 17 seconds and was able to block out the unusual distraction of running past a 10 foot tall poster of herself on the back of an articulated lorry!

Wilkinson admitted: “At the start I ran past without seeing it. My mind was set on the race.

"It was not a record breaking attempt, which was a bit sad in a way, but I achieved what I set out to do.”

Given her excellent performances for Britain in the past few years, Wilkinson was always the strong favourite to claim the win. Georgia Tindley gave her a run for her money though, finishing less than four minutes behind in 3.26.02.

Wilkinson finished 33rd overall and there were some exceptional times for the men in this year's race, which began in Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

Tom Owens won the race for a second time, crossing the line in 2.49.08, which was nearly five minutes quicker than when he emerged victorious in 2011.

Last year's winner Murray Strain came second, with the Cambridge-based runner finishing in 2.52.36. Ricky Lightfoot, who came out on top in 2014 and 2015, completed the podium places with his time of 2.53.48.

Ilkley Harriers' Jack Wood has won a plethora of races this year, but he had to settle for fourth this time out, coming home in 2.59.35.

In the veterans’ classes, 70-year-old Ken Taylor, of Rossendale Harriers, knocked 12 minutes off the men’s over-70 record with his magnificent time of 4.32.31.