Fell runner follows in father’s footsteps with race win – but still has far to go

Joe Symonds, 28, of Hunters Bog Trotters in Edinburgh, finished the 23-mile race over the summits of Penyghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales in 2hrs 55mins 58secs.

Now he must win the race twice more to equal the achievement of his father, Hugh Symonds, of Kendal Athletic Club, who won in 1984, 1985 and 1987.

The younger Symonds, who finished ninth in the Three Peaks in 2008 when it was a round of the World Mountain Running Championships and retired at the Hill Inn checkpoint last year suffering from blisters, and what he described as “a lack of fitness”, was modest about his success.

He said: “The Three Peaks has a reputation for toughness, but in some ways you have to be fortunate to win it. If you have anything wrong with you on the day, you will get found out on this course.”

The Three Peaks is billed as “the Marathon with Mountains” because of its 5,270ft of ascent.

First-time entrants came second and third, with Carl Bell, 29, of Howgill Harriers, second in 2hrs 57mins 29secs, and Rob Baker, 34, of Dark Peak Fell Runners, just 32 seconds behind him.