WEYMOUTH'S Carole Smith has won gold at the World Triathlon Championships in the over-50 age group.

The Hamburg event consisted of a 750m swim, a 22km bike around the centre of the city, and a 5km run.

There were huge crowds in Germany as the World Championships also featured the Olympic hopefuls from across the globe.

The St Paul's Harriers' athlete finished sixth in the swim and first in both the bike ride and run, her strongest link, crossing the line with several Union Jack flags waving her on from the side.

Smith's victory will come as a surprise to most as she has never competed at this level in the triathlon before, and leading up to the event was not known by most of the Great Britain team.

The resort athlete thanked the training programme set out for her by Australian Ironman athlete Chris Kiley.

Fellow Harriers' triathlete Ian Hughes also competed in Hamburg, finishing 10th overall in the men's over-45 age group.

Hughes has also qualified for the Olympic distance in next year's World Championships in Vancouver.

Both athletes have certainly earned their break from training, but will begin the hard work for next season in mid-October.