A university student from Toot Hill is celebrating after qualifying to represent Great Britain at the Triathlon World Championships Grand Final in Beijing.

Kate Burley, 23, finished as third fasted female in her category (aged 20 to 24) at the Dambuster Triathlon event, held in June in Shropshire, and has now flown out to China to compete on the 2008 Olympic course.

The Bath PhD student completed the qualifying race in 2 hrs 25.21 secs, and although she won’t be competing in the elite event, Burley will still be testing herself against competitors from across the globe.

Burley initially only took up the sport as a hobby having been a keen swimmer for many years but has developed into a top performer.

The Olympic distance event will be held on Sunday, starting at 6.30am, and Burley will be funding the trip herself.

An Olympic distance triathlon sees competitors complete a 1.5km swim in open water, a 40km cycle ride and a 10km run.

Burley spoke of how she surprised herself to qualify and was looking forward to the trip to Beijing.

She said: “My boyfriend and I do a lot of mountaineering trips so I would never normally think of going to Beijing for a holiday so it was surreal.”

Despite competing on the other side of the world, Burley will be able to rely on the support of some familiar faces.

She has travelled out with her mother and father who decided to make use of some birthday travel vouchers to go and support their daughter.

Burley is unsure how she will fare but is just looking forward to the experience of competing on the world stage.

“It is just a fantastic opportunity,” she said.

“I am nervous because again I am going to each stage not knowing how I am going to do.

“I am just going with a view to enjoying it and enjoying the experience.”