FITNESS instructor Paul Doyle was on top of the world after winning his first ever ultra-distance race as an elite athlete.

The 29-year-old former Philips High School pupil completed the 58km Jolsport Kaiserkrone in 7hrs 7mins 25 secs, beating Austrian runner-up Roland Reider by more than 13 minutes.

He was also one of only three runners to complete the course inside eight hours.

The event, which started and finished in the Austrian ski resort of Scheffau, included a 3,500m ascent, with competitors scrambling up steep climbs and across cliff faces.

“It was the hardest sporting event I have ever been in and winning it was one of my greatest achievements,” said Doyle, who moved to Kitzbuhel from Whitefield eight years ago to work as a ski instructor.

“It has given me the motivation to train even harder and to accept the sacrifices I’m making to get to the top. I know if I keep following my passion, I will get there.”

Doyle has been a sports fanatic from a young age, playing rugby for Sedgley Park and cricket for Stand and Unsworth. Alpine ski racing was always his biggest passion, though, and he competed nationally for both the Lions and Pendle ski clubs.

He got into long-distance running via triathlon, after working as a cycling instructor in the summer months, and later progressed into Ironman races.

But Doyle was held back by his swimming, and over the last 12 month has focused solely on distance running.

He finished second in his age group in the Tour de Tirol Marathon, which helped him to qualify for the Jolsport Kaiserkrone as an elite athlete and is now looking for sponsorship to help rise up the elite rankings.