CHILDSWICKHAM youngster Casarena Ferreira won her age group in the Lincoln Duathlon at RAF Scampton.

The Evesham Vale Triathletes member claimed the girls’ youths category in a total of 42 minutes 21.1 seconds.

She took the lead from the start of the three-kilometre run and kept her advantage on the 10km bike section while combating the high winds.

Ferreira then did a 1.2km run to finish 1.40 in front of second place.

Club-mate Grace Nolan was second out of a strong Tristart Two field in wet, windy conditions over 1.2km and 400m runs and a 4km bike section.

Both girls have benefitted from Wattbike training and Ferreira said she was pleased to reap the benefits of her winter training programme.

Meanwhile, a new fund, founded by Mike Deakin, is being set up in Broadway to assist aspiring athletes, such as Ferreira, with the high costs of participating at national levels.

More details are available at cassandfriends.com, where people can get in touch and make online donations and sponsorship if they wish.

Ferreira is the first recipient but they hope others will come forward to benefit.