EVESHAM athlete Helen Russell is celebrating after clinching the British Race Series title in her maiden quadrathlon season.

Russell won the third race in the series at Box End in Bedford last weekend.

She had previously clinched the British Championship title in May.

An elated Russell said: “I am delighted to win the Box End race and with it take the British Series title.

“It feels great to be the series winner as well as the British champion in just my first season. It makes all the training and hard work worth it.”

The Worcester Canoe Club member lined up against the country’s best quadrathletes to tackle a 750m lake swim, 15km off-road bike, 4.8km kayak and 5km run.

Having already won two out of the five series races and with three races to count, Russell knew a victory would secure her the British crowd.

Russell, who is supported by the Rivers Evesham Gifted and Talented Scheme, started the race in pole position.

She took an early lead in the swim and exited the lake in 10.41 to be the leading woman and second overall.

Having only started kayaking a year ago, the kayak leg is Russell’s weakest discipline.

However, she covered the 4.8k in 32.29 and held on to the lead, despite being closely chased by the 2016 race series winner Jean Ashley, who completed the kayak section in 30.32.

Russell, who is a road cycling specialist, found the energy-sapping off-road mountain bike route tough.

Her legs were still fatigued from having cycled up Mont Ventoux three times in one day the previous weekend for charity.

But she posted the fastest female bike leg of the day in 46.02 and headed into the final run leg 3 minutes and 7 seconds ahead of second-placed Ashley.

Russell concentrated on her footing on the uneven and undulating cross-country 5km run.

She eventually crossed the line in first place in a time of 1.56.53.

Behind Russell, there was a major battle for second place. Ashley was overtaken on the final stages by Cambridge Canoe Club competitor Alice Clarkson who ran very hard to take the silver medal in a final time of 2.01.30.

Ashley finished 29 seconds behind in 2.01.59 to claim the bronze medal.