Hebdon's Victoria Wilkinson will not get the chance to break her own record in the Three Peaks Race as the event was postponed due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The race is a premier event in the UK’s fell running calendar and was set to take place in the Yorkshire Dales on Saturday, April 25.

In 2017, Wilkinson, knocked five minutes off the women’s record, previously held by Czech Republic's Anna Pichrtova.

The experienced runner cut the women’s record to 3hrs 9mins 19secs and claimed a £500 bonus prize.

Wilkinson finished 13th overall, the highest race position by a female runner in the race’s history.

The event has been held every year since 1954, except 2001 when Foot and Mouth Disease prevented access to the route.

Three Peaks Race Association chairman, Martin Bullock, said: “Hopefully, we are looking to re-arrange the race for Saturday, September 26, but this is under discussion with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and others.”

The race, which accepts 1,000 entries and usually has 800 plus starters, begins in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, near Settle, and takes runners over the mountain summits of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough – a distance of 37.4k (23.3 miles) with 1,609 metres (5,279ft) of ascent and descent.

Mr Bullock added: “Our prime consideration is the safety and well-being of entrants and our 250 marshals, including RAYNET radio operators, the Cave Rescue Organisation mountain rescue team and Horton-in-Ribblesdale Playing Field Association members, who host our event.”

Race Director Paul Dennison said: “Although runners spread out over the race route, they start the day close together at registration in the race marquee and return for refreshments and the prize giving. It is the close assembly of more than 1,000 people which we see as possibly risking the spread of infection.”

Runners who have already registered on-line will have their entries transferred to the revised date.

September 26 has been provisionally chosen as the replacement because it is one of the few dates available in the calendar which does not clash with a major fell running event.