STROUD'S Gwen Kinsey grabbed World Triathlon Championship age-group gold in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Competing in the 1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run, she started strongly in the choppy waters of Lake Geneva, exiting the water in second-place.

The bike course was a combination of long flat sections interspersed with short sharp hills and technical turns. Gwen particularly enjoyed the hills, where gear selection was important on the time trial bike. Having moved up into the lead in transition one, she held off two powerful cyclists during the bike who were gradually closing her down.

Traditionally Gwen's strongest discipline, her run has been affected by the progression of osteoarthritis in her big toes. However, determined to hold on for the win she put the pain to the back of her mind and concentrated on closing down athletes from other age-groups ahead of her.

Aware of Swiss athlete Sandra Patt running swiftly up into second place, Gwen kept pushing to the line to hold on for victory by over a minute. She was also the fastest GB female athlete of the day across all age-groups.

This rounds off the end of an excellent season in which Gwen has also picked up a gold and silver at the European Triathlon Championships and World Duathlon Championships respectively.

Gwen would like to thank The Bike Works and Gyles Allen hairdressers for their generous sponsorship and also for the support of 5 Valleys Physiotherapy and the Fifth Dimension for whom she is an ambassador.