A runner was set to break a record in today's Burnsall Fell Race - despite admitting himself he might come last in the field.

Don Robinson, pictured, was thought to be the oldest competitor in today's race at the age of 76.

The septuagenarian has been training hard for the historic challenge, which sees competitors run up a 1,350ft cairn before returning by a different route to the finish line in the village.

Mr Robinson, of Leeds Road, Pool-in-Wharfedale, said he trained for the event by running the course, clocking up a best training time of 33 minutes.

"I'm 76 now and you don't get too many people running at this time of life," he said.

"I think the route is about a mile each way and this is the first time I have competed in it."

The former University of Leeds physical education

lecturer, who now has his

own climbing wall manufacturing company in Pool

-in-Wharfedale, said his tactics for the race involved a mixture of "fast walking and jogging".

"I'm going to walk up as fast as I can and then run down the steep incline," he said.

"I've done many long distance walks and races in the past but I just decided it was time I did something different."

Before suffering from heart problems seven years ago, Mr Robinson was a keen walker and took part in the gruelling 61-mile Fellsman Hike through the Yorkshire Dales for 30 years in a row.

Despite the majority of runners in today's race expected to finish in a time between 13 and 18 minutes, Mr Robinson said he would be pleased to break the 30-minute barrier.

"My objective is to complete the race and I'm sure there's quite a few people who'll take nearly 30 minutes to do it," he said.

The race is part of the Burnsall Feast Sports day in the village which also includes a ten-mile road race, stalls and children's entertainment.

Leonard Horton, president of the Burnsall Feast Sports committee, said he thought Mr Robinson was this year's oldest competitor.

"All the runners I know of are well under that age this year," he said. "This is the oldest short-distance fell race in the country."

The Burnsall Fell Race is believed to have been established around 1870. The first printed report of it appeared in the Craven Herald in 1882.

Professional runner Fred Reeves in 1977 and amateur runner J R Wilde in 1983 hold the record time of 12 minutes and 48 seconds for the run.