THERE was double delight for North Yorkshire marathon international Darran Bilton when he triumphed in the first race involving runners taking part in a new scheme he has set up.

Bilton, who early this year moved from York to live and work in Pickering, smashed the course record in winning the Ryedale 10' race at Pickering, while his guests from Richmond-based Swaledale Harriers won the team prize.

The Swaledale athletes came to Pickering for a weekend of running under the Yorkshire Runner scheme which Bilton has launched. This involves him hosting groups of visiting club runners in Pickering for short breaks, taking them out on country runs and finishing with a competitive race in the Ryedale area.

Bilton is a Leeds City AC member but on this occasion ran in Swaledale club colours. His winning time of 55min 04sec beat the previous record for the course by 34 seconds.

Full information of the running breaks organised by Bilton can be found on website yorkshirerunner.co.uk