STOURBRIDGE duathlete Simon Hall has raced to 12th in the ITU World Duathlon Championships.

The 37-year-old donned his Great Britain kit and flew to Penticton, Canada, to represented the country in the ITU World Duathlon Championships, scooping 12th place in the 35-39 age category on August 19.

Producing one of his best international performances to date, Hall ran 10 Kilometres, cycled 40 kilometres and ran a further 5 kilometres in just 02.04.09. The result was even more impressive given that he had been struggling with a calf injury and unable to train or run two weeks prior to the race.

Race day saw the competitors taking to the start line at 7.30am local time. The conditions were pretty much perfect with a great 10 kilometre run around the city of Penticton followed by a fast out and back non-drafting bike course along the beautiful Okanagan Lake. As the morning warmed up, the final 5k was a matter of hanging on and hoping the injured calf would hold out to the finish.

Hall, from Norton, said: “It was touch and go if I’d complete the race as I’d been suffering from a jammed ankle which had meant my calf had become very tight and painful. But I thought that this could be the last time I ever get a chance like this, so I’ve just got to push through it. My perseverance and all that hard training paid off when I finished 12th in the world for my age category. I was chuffed with the result.

“I was incredibly proud to be able to represent Great Britain and travelling to Canada for the race was a fantastic experience.”

The result at the world championships tops off a great season for Hall who took 10th position at the European Championships in April. He now has his sights set on qualifying for next year’s European and World Duathlon Championships where he hopes to improve on this year’s impressive results by aiming for a podium spot.

Athlete’s that are part of the Great Britain age group are self-funded and Hall is always on the lookout for local companies to help support him with kit, training and competition fees. If you are interested in sponsoring a local British athlete, please contact simon_hall_105@hotmail.com