Appointment with international action (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Appointment with international action

10:00am Friday 11th September 2009 in Sport

STOURPORT doctor Rachel Ward will test herself once more when she represents Great Britain in the World Triathlon Champions in Brisbane this month.

The 50-year-old completes in the 50 to 55-year-old age group in Australia on Saturday.

This is the second time that Ward has represented the country at the championships and came eight in the 45-49 age section in Vancouver last year.

She said: “This is my second time at the World Championships and I am hoping that I will be a little more relaxed than the first time.

“Last time I was nervous but now I know how it all works and concentrate on competing, doing my best and enjoying myself.

“My aim is to do my best and try and keep up with competitors I know are better than me.

“I am in an older age group and competing in the Olympic standard class this time around so it is going to be a tougher competition for me.

“It is spring in Australia, so I am hoping that it's not too hot. If it is then I will struggle because I haven’t really done any warm weather training.”

Ward goes into the tournament in good form after a year where she has not been hampered by injury.

The Amazing Feet running club member suffered a broken clavicle last year in the build-up to Vancouver.

But she is in fine form and ran a personal best in this year’s London Marathon, setting a time of three hours, 33 minutes and 14 seconds.