WEST Devon sportswomen Sue Walker took part in a gruelling challenge when she completed a duathlon this month.

Sue, 40, who lives just outside Northlew, travelled to Nancy in France to take part in the 2010 European Triathlon Union (ETU), European Duathlon Championships.

She came third place in her age group, bringing home a bronze medal in a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 38 seconds, missing out on a second place by just over one minute.

The duathlon is an athletic event that consists of a running leg, followed by a cycling leg and then another running leg.

Sue, who is a member of Okehampton Running Club, said she trained hard for the event, which consists of a 10k run, 40k cycle, followed by a 5k run: 'I felt really excited and pleased when I finished.

'It's always after that you think, if you'd been a bit quicker? But I struggled getting my helmet on in transition, which slowed me up.

'I trained constantly with one day off a week dog walking, and I did a lot of cycling and running too.

'I have been training for the last three years and it's great to be part of the running club as it really helps.'

Sue, who did her first Duathlon in 2006, will be taking part in the 2010 World Championships in Edinburgh later this year.

She added: 'I'm very excited about it, but also very nervous.

'It's a very hilly course and it's going to be nasty, but I will keep up with my running and do more hours on the bike.'

The 2010 World Championships take place between Friday, September 3 and Sunday, September 5.