HANNAH Claydon said she was absolutely “chuffed to bits” to win her first Wiltshire senior title.

The 22-year-old Swindon Harrier again demonstrated why she is one of the most exciting talents in the county as she held off a determined change from Chippenham Harriers’ Eilidh Bell to claim victory at Bath University on Sunday.

“I am really chuffed to bits with that win,” said Claydon, who lives in Marlborough.

“I had won a few titles on the track many years ago but this is my first senior one so I am really happy.”

The Wiltshire Championships are run together with the Avon and Somerset in the guise of the Tri-Counties Cross Country Championships to provide better competition and a streamline organisation.

From the start Claydon took the challenge to the field as she and Bell shot into the lead on the first of the opening two small laps.

“I was leading on the first two small laps but then the Chippenham runner died a bit and I was caught by the athlete from Team Bath (Katrine Svane), who went on to win the race overall,” added Claydon.

“I probably went off a bit too quick and if I had held back I might have done even better but cross country is new to me and it is much quicker than multi terrain.”

With Svane qualified for the Avon Championships Claydon’s Wiltshire crown was safe as she eventually finished 35 seconds clear of Bell.

Victory also strengthened Claydon’s grip on the Wiltshire Off-Road League having already won the Wickstead Wander, the Marshfield Mudlark and White Horse Gallop events earlier this winter.

Claydon’s success wasn’t the only victory for the Harriers. Club colleague Harriet Hillman has been making a name for herself as an international biathlete competing in run-swim events for Great Britain.

The 10-year-old, from Cricklade, recently made the headlines after winning a silver medal in her age group at the Biathle World Championships in Sarasota, Florida.

No swimming was required on Sunday but Hillman still left her rivals in her wake as she won the under 11s title by a decisive 32 seconds from Chippenham Harriers’ Erica Dunstone.

In the under 13 girls’ race there was a bronze medal for Harrier Lavinia Rai while in the boys’ races Harry Cunningham won silver in the under 13 boys’ and Fletcher Hart was third in the under 11 boys’ age group.

In the senior men’s race leading Harrier was Dan Thomas in fourth place.