Oxford Mail reporter Emma-Kate Lidbury was one of thousands of competitors in the Blenheim Triathlon – and hit the headlines, finishing second out of about 500 entrants in the Female Sprint.

The event, sponsored by the Mail, took place over two days.

More than 3,000 athletes swam, cycled and ran their way around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, just north of Oxford.

Twenty-six-year-old Emma-Kate finished in a time of 1hr 18m 46 after a 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run.

She said: “After taking part in my first triathlon at Blenheim last year, I totally caught the triathlon bug.

“I only entered it because the editor wanted a reporter to be a “face in the race” but have since seriously got into the sport.

“At the end of last season I realised, if I trained properly, I could get some excellent results, so have spent the winter months training between 12 and 18 hours a week.

The journalist, who previously worked as a trainee reporter on the Swindon Advertiser, now aims to represent Great Britain in the World Championships in Switzerland in September.

She added: “Blenheim was my first race of the season, so it was a good test of how that training has gone, and I felt good.

“There’s plenty more for me to work on, though, and I just hope I get stronger and stronger as the season goes on and I get the results I’ve been training for.”