A HEREFORD triathlete claimed gold for Great Britain at the European Long Distance Age Group Championships.

Kylie Mansfield completed a 2.4m swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run in 11 hours and 11 minutes.

A strong swimmer, Mansfield was the first age group woman out of the swim and overtook some professional athletes racing at the event in Weymouth.

She then undertook a tricky bike course, but despite the wind, came into transition as second overall.

Worsening conditions then greeted Mansfield on the road, but she managed to finish second overall and first in her age group to win the gold medal.

Mansfield, a member of the NFTO cycling team, was pleased that her focused cycling training over the winter had enabled her to improve her bike times and remain in a competitive position after this discipliner.

She is now looking forward to improving her running over the winter period and training with Wye Valley Runners.

Mansfield added that she is grateful for the Halo Sports Foundation sponsoring her and is looking forward to taking part in the local cross-country series for Hereford Triathlon Club, which will form part of a solid block of winter training in preparation for next season when she hopes to represent Great Britain again at the European Middle Distance Championships in Austria.