VICTORIA Wilkinson has won the women’s Great Britain Team Selection Race for the European Mountain Running Championships to earn automatic selection for the trip to Bursa in Turkey on July 9.

The Clitheroe-based Bingley Harrier, on her return from a three-month injury lay-off, beat the cream of Britain’s fell runners, including the entire Lancashire Inter Counties team, to take the victory at Keswick.

The race mirrors the format of the uphill only race in Turkey as the athletes race up Skiddaw from Fitz Park.

Wilkinson was also in the GB team for the World Long Distance Mountain Race in Slovenia this weekend but has withdrawn as she eases her way back from injury.

In the men’s team is Ricky Lightfoot, who runs for Blackburn Harriers on the road.

Dominic Mahoney will also be on his way to the European Championships after finishing second in the U20 men’s race in Keswick.

The 16-year-old Blackburn Harrier is at the bottom of his age group, but could have won but for a nasty fall that left him clinging to second spot.

Like Wilkinson, he has another assignment in Slovenia first after qualifying for the World Youth Challenge on June 25.

The event at Keswick was also the Inaugural UKA Mountain Running Championship, and as well as Mahoney’s silver medal, there was a bronze for his club mate Beckie Taylor in the U20 women’s race – another who raced at Blackpool.

She has secured selection for the European Championships, with three places available in her race, while Rossendale Harrier Joe Johnston is awaiting the selectors’ verdict after his fourth place in the U20 men’s race, where there are four places up for grabs. A week ago, Lauren Jeska won her second English Fell Championship race of the season to extend her lead in the 2011 standings.

The Todmorden Harrier took the 18-mile long Duddon Race in 3:14:26 but was only 13 seconds ahead of her closest championship rival Helen Fines.

Clayton-le-Moors Harrier Wendy Dodds won three veteran classes – the over 60s, the over 55s and the over 50s – as she circulated in 4:15:24.

Fellow Clayton Harriers Mike Wallis and Kieran Carr won the men’s over 50 and over 65 classes in respective times of 3:14:56 and 3:55:35, while Pete Booth was second over 60.

Defending English champion Rob Hope was eighth in 2:53:29.