Samantha Murray successfully defended her British Modern Pentathlon title in Solihull yesterday.

Clitheroe’s Murray, a silver medalist at the Olympic Games in 2012, came home first in the women’s competition to retain both the GB Open title and the British Championship crown.

Murray was in second spot after the 200m freestyle swim behind Alice Fitton.

The 24-year-old responded well in the fencing to be best of the Brits but she trailed Hungary’s Tamara Alekszejev by six points overall in the race for the Open title.

Murray dropped to third after the ride but overhauled a 26-second deficit to Alekszejev in the run/shoot as she posted the fifth fastest time of the day to win by nine seconds.