A WEST Devon triathlete is celebrating gold, following a fantastic performance at the World Triathlon Sprint Championships in London's Hyde Park this month.  

Trish Deykin, from Milton Combe, fought through a cold 750m swim in the Serpentine then a very wet technical bike course around Hyde Park, consisting of three laps totalling 22.5k.  

Trish said: 'Loads of people fell off in numerous crashes but I managed to stay on.  

'Then it was a two lap 5k run which I completed in 17 min 53 secs — a personal best!' 

Trish finished in a total of 1 hour 12 minutes and 47 seconds, winning gold for her age group — 35 to 39 — winning by 45 seconds.  

Trish added: 'I found out later that I came sixth female overall! I am over the moon.  

'I'm now having a month off then it's back to training for next year's Europeans held in Austria and Worlds in Canada — so no rest for the wicked!'

Trish's achievements are all the more incredible, as she suffers from multiple sclerosis, but she refuses to let her condition rule her life.

This month's superb achievement follows her silver medal at the European Championships this summer, when she was also third female overall in the competition.