With England's Rugby World Cup triumph in Australia as an inspiration, Hadleigh-based Charmaine Wheeler is travelling Down Under tomorrow to neighbouring New Zealand for the Triathlon World Championships.

Kiwi polish - that's the aim of Hadleigh triathlete Charmaine Wheeler in New Zealand Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Having qualified to represent Great Britain, the 21-year-old has taken two weeks out from her studies, in sport and geography at Carmarthen University in West Wales to make the trip.

The championships are centred 20 miles from Queenstown, South Island, in the picturesque location of Arrowtown, a region famed for providing the setting for filming of Lord of the Rings.

Charmaine earned the right to represent her country in the 20-24 year age category way back in June, when she finished second in a key qualifying race at Windsor.

The triathlon campaign in Europe normally ends in September, but the timing of the championships on the other side of the globe has extended Charmaine's season.

After a break in September, she has put in two months' concentrated training for the event, which will hopefully come to fruition on Saturday week.

Before leaving, an excited Charmaine said: "I feel very tired right now, but I've stayed clear of injury and illness, and I'm having 10-12 days tapering down for the race. I can't wait for it to arrive."

Published Wednesday November 26, 2003

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