VETERAN runner Denise Farnham, from Sturry, near Canterbury, has gained probably the biggest win of her career.

She won the 1500m gold medal in the 45-50 age group at the European Veteran Indoor Athletics Championships in San Sebastian, Spain, at the weekend.

Her time of 5min 4sec was a new championship record by three seconds, and the runner-up in the 16-strong field was seven seconds behind.

Farnham, 47, who runs for Medway and Maidstone, was the oldest runner in the race, but typically led from the start and soon opened up a lead of half a lap.

She felt the victory was at least equal to winning the world biathle championships, a swimming and running event, two years ago.

Farnham, who was supported in a crowd of several thousand by her husband, Geoff, said: “I had never been so nervous before a race. I had never done a European race before and did not know any of my rivals, so I had a real sense of achievement."

She will attempt to qualify for another biathle World Championship, at Bournemouth in June, and will competed in the British track and field finals in Derby the following month.