HELEN BERRY proved herself to be Yorkshire’s best when she was first county lady home in the Marathon of the Mountains – the Three Peaks Fell race.

The Holmfirth Harriers Lady Captain had a terrific run, setting a new personal best to finish 99th overall and fifth woman in 3hr 50min 50sec for the 24 miles (which includes 5,000ft of ascent).

Her performance earned her a well-deserved call-up for the Yorkshire team at the forthcoming Inter-counties race alongside Katie Walshaw – a great honour for the club to have two in county colours.

Taking in the summits of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, the Three Peaks again attracted a quality field, including Holmfirth’s top man over the fells, Tom Brunt, and Veteran Over 70 runner Bill Wade, who was bidding to complete the vent for the 42nd time.

Holmfirth had 12 in the field of 745 for the 58th running of the Peaks, which was largely dry.

Brunt was first home for the Harriers with an excellent 13th overall in 3-14.27.

A little further back, a great race within a race was taking place between Andy Hauser, John Ewart and Berry, who were within a minute of each other at the Hill Inn checkpoint.

Hauser managed to break away on the climb up Ingleborough and finished strongly in 3-44.23, 70th overall and 2nd V50, with Ewart just behind (91st overall, third V50) in 3-48.51.

Jim Durrans was running the race for the first time and although he was in contention with Berry for much of the race, the increased distance took its toll.

He still finished under the four-hour barrier in 3-59.24.

Just behind him, Phil Hobbs steadily picked his way through the field, moving up over 100 places between Pen-y-Ghent and the finish for 182nd in 4-06.37, an improvement of 40 minutes on his 2010 time.

Recent recruit and first-timer Jon Burdon also ran a well-judged race, finishing 388th overall in a time of 4-37.49. Dave Knight – strapped up – battled round to finish in 4-47.52, just ahead of another first-timer John Robinson (4-57.09). Karen Sinkinson, a regular, surprised herself but no-one else when she claimed the FV50 top prize, finishing in 4-57.15 – a great reward for her efforts.

Unfortunately, Jim Sommerville and Bill Wade had to retire.

Next up for the Harriers is the Calderdale Way Relay on Sunday May 13, where the Ladies will be hoping to retain the title they won last year.

Results – (Holmfirth unless stated): 1 Joe Symonds (Hunters Bog Trotters) 2-55.58; 13 Tom Brunt 3-14.27; 36 & 1 lady Sarah O’Neill (Hunters Bog Trotters) 3-28.43; 70 & 2 V50 Andy Hauser 3-44.23; 91 & 3 V50 John Ewart 3-48.51; 99 & 5 lady Helen Berry 3-50.50; 144 Jim Durrans 3-59.24; 182 Phil Hobbs 4-06.37; 388 Jon Burdon 4-37.49; 457 Dave Knight 4-47.52; 517 John Robinson 4-57.09; 520 & 1 FV50 Karen Sinkinson 4-57.15 (641 finishers).