WORLD pentathlete champion Kate Allenby climbed the first rung of the ladder on Sunday on her way to next year's Olympic Games in Sydney.
Kate, 24, whose home is on the outskirts of Tavistock, won the first national qualifier at Sandhurst by a handsome margin and scored her highest ever points total against 18 other competitors finishing on 5,616 pts.
She won the fence, shoot and swim disciplines and came third in the run and ride.
'It was just one of those days when everything came together,' said Kate. 'I just hope things aren't happening too early. There is still a long way to go this season.'
Kate, who is a student at the University of Surrey doing a master's degree in philosophy in sports politics, spent a week training in Lanzarotte before the weekend's event.
'We trained really, really hard doing 40 miles running and 18 kilometres in the pool,' she said. 'But it seems to have paid off.'
Her sponsor, Barclaycard, has just given Kate an extra £1,000 bonus following last year's results when she won the 1998 World Cup Series in Prague. She has also just signed a contract with the giant sportswear company Adidas.
'The extra money will be useful and will go towards a training camp in Germany,' she said.
Her busy season continues with two more national qualifiers in Bracknell and Milton Keynes. At the end of the month she travels to America for two World Cup series in San Antonio and Mexico City.
Kate said: 'It is a very exciting time for the sport. The women's pentathlon has taken a big step forward and the Olympics will really highlight the sport.'
If Kate keeps up her winning form, she will take part in the European championships this summer and then take a six-week break before the Olympic qualifier in Sydney in October.