EASTER Compton tri-athlete Jane Leslie went some way to making up for her disappointment at the World Championships by becoming the national age group champion 2008.

One month earlier Leslie travelled to Vancouver in Canada for the World Age Group Championships with the hope of gaining a medal, but her chances were effectively ruined when the organisers cancelled the swim.

However, Leslie bounced back in perfect style with victory of over three minutes ahead of her nearest rival in the 55-59 year age category at Wakefield.

She battled through strong winds and driving rain in the event which consisted of a 1500m open water swim, a 40km bike ride, followed by a 10km run.

Although that success could not make up for the hurt she suffered in Canada, it was nonetheless very satisfactory.

She said: "It made me feel better about myself.

"Nothing will make up for it (the World Championships) because I spent a lot of money to go out there.

"Even the people who had an advantage weren't happy because it just wasn't a triathlon. It's like having a steeplechase with no jumps. However it is very nice to be national champion."

Leslie began swimming when she was 39 and her talent quickly grew as she was the British champion for the 1500m swim, and also held the national record.

She has been a member at Thornbury running club for five years and took up cycling two and a half years ago.

With such a good record in the water however, swimming is her forte in the gruelling triathlon event, and after training long and hard for her chance to achieve something special at the World Championships she felt very let down by the poor organisation of the event.

Leslie told the Gazette of the lows she felt at that time, and how she managed to pick herself up for the national event.

She said: "I was aiming to get in the medals but the organisation was appalling.

"I came back feeling angry and very depressed because I put a lot of effort into training for the event.

"I went up to Wakefield and felt quite low and tired, but when the race started I went for it because I'm very competitive and it was a very good race."

Leslie also managed to take 13 minutes off her personal best time for that event, finishing in 2:59:46 as she cruised to victory.

And her Canada experience has not put her off future international events as she plans to travel to Australia for the World Championships next year.

Before that, however she is aiming to compete in an even more gruelling ironman event in Sherburn.

Fellow Thornbury running club member Jon Greenwood also took part in the National Age Group National Championships and finished seventh in his category.