NORTH Cotswold Tri & Run’s Lucy Walmsley defied illness to star at the English Triathlon Championships at Ripon in Yorkshire.

Walmsley, who was suffering from a chest infection, secured first place in the English FV45 section.

Walmsley has now qualified for the standard distance world age group championship in Rotterdam.

And she will be competing in her first Ironman in Bolton on July 16 which will act as a qualifier for the World Championships in Kona.

She enjoyed a tight battle in Yorkshire and was one minute behind the leader after exiting the 1,500 metre swim.

There was hardly any distance between the top two during the transition and the 40km bike section.

The battle for the crown came down to the 10km run at the end.

Walmsley ran brilliantly in 41.16 to overhaul the leader and finish in the first place in a final time of 2.20.47 to be crowned English FV45 champion.

Meanwhile, Steve Edwards has completed his 787th marathon.

He finished the Littledown Marathon in 3:17:16 to take first place in MV50 and fifth place overall.

It was Edwards’ 27th competitive marathon this year.