AMY Strode from Frensham competed for Team GB Juniors at the Biathle European Championships held in Setubal, Portugal.

The 12-year-old was selected after coming sixth in the national selections for biathle held earlier at Millfield School, Dorset.

Biathle is a continuous run-swim-run competition with no breaks. In Portugal, the juniors started with a 400m run, then straight into a 50m sea swim and finally a 400m run.

Amy won her heat, securing a place in the finals the following day. After a strong start to her final, she entered the sea in second place behind another Team GB athlete.

However, she found herself boxed in at the turn around the buoy and was even dragged under the water more than once. She dropped back and emerged from the sea with a pack of six girls in equal seventh place.

Clearly frustrated by how the swim had gone, Amy drove up the beach steps and had the perfect transition, emerging for the start of the 400m run in third place. A Russian moved past into second place, leaving Amy to battle it out around the park with another Team GB girl. At the last bend, Amy took the inside line to gain a metre and won the final sprint to claim the bronze medal.

It was an excellent event for the Team GB U13 girls who finished first, third (Amy) and fourth to secure the team gold medals.

Amy, pictured with her medals, is a keen member of the Farnham Swimming Club regional training squad, coached by former Olympian Martin Edwards. She will start her final year at Edgeborough in September.