Friday 12 December 2014 22:13, UK
Lizzy Yarnold made a flying start to the Skeleton World Cup season with victory in the opening round in the United States.
Yarnold came home nearly a second clear of the field in Lake Placid in her first race since winning Winter Olympic gold in Sochi in February.
She finished 0.77 seconds clear of Canadian World Cup debutant Elisabeth Vathje after recording the fastest time in each of her two runs.
Yarnold is the red-hot favourite to retain her overall World Cup title following the retirement of her closest rival, America's Noelle Pikus-Pace, in the wake of the Sochi Games.
"With it being the start of the season I was a bit apprehensive that I wouldn't be quick enough or think quick enough," Yarnold said.
"There have been so many retirements that it's not the same as before, but these younger athletes are so good so I knew I had to bring my best performance, which I did."
Her Great Britain team-mate Rose McGrandle dropped one place on her second run to finish in sixth place with Laura Deas, who is stepping up from Intercontinental Cup competition, further back in 12th.
