Oxford Mail's multi-talented reporter, Emma-Kate Lidbury, took part in her first triathlon only 12 months ago and now she is looking forward to competing at the world champion- ships.

Lidbury swam, cycled and ran her way around Ellesmere in north Shropshire at the first World Championship qualifying event, knowing a top-five finish would secure her a place in the Great Britain squad.

Having never raced over the Olympic distance before (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run), many thought it might be too much to ask of her.

But she produced the result she needed, finishing fourth in a time of 2hrs 15mins 46secs.

She said: "It was a very tough race, the heat was exhausting and I certainly gave it everything. It's just great to have qualified at the first attempt, it makes all the training worth- while."

Lidbury took up the sport last year when the Oxford Mail sponsored the inaugural Blenheim Triathlon.

Finishing 14th out of 500 entrants after only a few hours training each week, she soon realised she might have a bright future in the sport, and joined the city's club, Oxford Tri.

Since then, under the guidance of head coach Mike Dunmore, who coached Oxford triathlete Sophie Whitworth to a bronze medal at last year's World Championships, she has gone from strength to strength, and finished second at this year's Blenheim event.

She said: "It has been a crazy year, really.

"I knew after last year's Blenheim race that, with a bit of hard work, I could get some excellent results, so I put my head down over the winter and braved all weathers to improve my fitness and get the hours in."

She has been training between 12 and 18 hours a week, fitting in training before, after and sometimes during work, as a senior news reporter at the Oxford Mail.

She said: "Balancing training with work is always challenging, but that's part of the test in some ways.

"I took a week off earlier in the year to go on a warm weather training camp with the club in Tenerife and came back flying.

"I'm fitter than I've ever been and am just delighted that come September I'll be competing for my country."

However, it's not all good news. Now a new challenge awaits the triathlete finding a sponsor to help fund the trip to the world championships, which are being held in Lausanne, Switzerland, in early September.

She added: "Each squad member is expected to fund the trip themselves, so any help I could get would be hugely appreciated."

Anyone interested in sponsoring Lidbury should call 01865 425403 or e-mail elidbury@ nqo.com