Pippa Middleton competes in the Highland Cross

PIPPA Middleton - the younger sister of the future queen - competed in the gruelling Highland Cross duathlon arriving by helicopter for the start of the race.

Proving just as glamorous in black lycra and a cycling helmet as when she held the train for her sister's wedding, she was one of more than 700 competitors who ran and cycled 50 miles coast to coast, from Kintail in Wester Ross through Glen Affric to the finish line in Beauly.

She notched up a respectable five hours eight minutes.

However, she declined to talk to photographers, who lined up to capture an image of her famous rear, as she joined team mates Jake French and Rose Laing for the first leg of the annual challenge, a 20 mile run, followed by a 30 mile bike ride.

She is believed to have been in training prior to the Royal wedding of Kate and William where her appearance in a tight and stylist bridesmaid's dress received much admiration from male followers around the world.