A rapid reporter struck gold and silver in a UK athletics championship.

Karen Hindle, feature writer with the Ipswich-based East Anglian Daily Times, took top spot in the 200m and second in 100m at the British Master Athletics Championships.

This latest success, at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, comes on the back of a brace of silvers for the 42-year-old in the same disciplines at the National Indoor Championships earlier this year.

Karen said: “It has been a fantastic season for me. This is the first time I have competed at this level and it has been both nerve-wracking and exhilarating.

“I was hoping I would be in the top four, and secretly hoped to win a medal, but I never dreamt it would be gold.

“I had to work very hard in the 200m and I think I lost all ladylike decorum towards the end because I started yelling to help drive me over the line. Now there is talk of the Europeans. It’s great!”

Karen has dabbled with athletics since she was ten, but having been identified as “one to watch” she succumbed to “teenage ways” and turned her back on the sport.

The Archant writer picked it up again, winning a place at sports college West London Institute where she did her degree, but the calibre was too high, with Linford Christie also doing a foundation course.

Karen had a brief flirtation with long distance running, which saw her complete the Stockholm Marathon in 2005.