The Oxford Mail can now boast a European champion on its payroll after reporter Emma-Kate Lidbury brought home triathlon gold.

She won her age group (25 – 29) at the Olympic-distance European Triathlon Championships, held in an overcast and cold Lisbon.

The event comprised a 1,500m swim, 40k bike ride and 10k run which the 28-year-old finished in 2h 14m 55s – nearly ten minutes ahead of her second-placed rival.

As an added bonus ahead of next month's World Championships in Canada, Emma-Kate recorded two personal best times.

She said: "I'm European champion which has a nice ring to it.

"The race went really well. I felt good going in and knew if things went well I'd be up there among the medals but I had no idea I was in such good form that I'd win by nearly ten minutes.

"I did the swim in 19m 51s which was a great start – it was always my aim to swim a sub-20-minute 1,500m last season but I never quite cracked it.

"The rain started coming down and the wind picked up early on in the bike course so all of a sudden it was like racing at home.

"Halfway through, I knew I'd established a solid five-minute lead so knew I'd be a fool to throw that away and worked hard to keep focused.

"Going out onto the run there was a lot of support for Team GB – running has been my focus for the past few months and I knew things had been going well.

"My 10k personal best - on fresh legs, not as part of a triathlon - is 38m 19s and I posted a 37m 53s.

"All in all, it's a great confidence booster ahead of the Worlds, which are now less than four weeks away, and I have to say I can't wait to get there and race.

"It just shows that the training is all paying off and it's nice to get such a great result."

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