Oxford triathlete Sophie Whitworth struck gold at the National Championships at Wakefield.

The 35-year-old, who lives at Forest Hill, clocked 2hrs 28mins for the 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run in the 35 to 39 age group.

This latest success comes after she won a silver medal at the World Championships in Hawaii last year.

Oxford Mail reporter Emma-Kate Lidbury was left frustrated with fifth place in the 25 to 29 age group.

The 26-year-old recorded 2.28.00 in only her second competition at the full distance of 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run.

But it meant she finished two minutes off a bronze medal on a day dominated by hot weather and an imposing bike route.

Lidbury said: "It wasn't a great day performance-wise. I suffered on the bike. It was an extremely tough course. We drove it the day before instead of riding it and it seemed even worse then."

"It is meant to be the toughest bike course in the country, some of the hills were ridiculous.

"I manged to clock 45mph on one of the downhills and lost a contact lens.

"I'm a bit short-sighted, but I was fine for the run."

She added: "It has put the fire back in my belly to perform well in the London Triathlon in August. There's so much to work on for that."

Matt Powell, also of the Oxford Triathlon Club, came tenth in the men's 30 to 34 event with 2.14.00 despite receiving a two-minute penalty.