GUERNSEY has a British quadrathlon champion in Gail Merrien, who also beat the world champion in the process. The 42-year-old won silver for Guernsey in the triathlon at last year’s Island Games in Rhodes (pictured).

And she has now turned her hand to quadrathlon, which is a 1,500m open water swim, followed by a 7km kayak, a 40km cycle and, lastly, a 10km run.

Merrien made her debut in the sport at the national championships at the weekend in Brigg, north Lincolnshire. The event is affectionately known as The Brigg Bomber. Merrien was the first woman to finish in 3hr 7min. 40sec.

Her time was also a whole two-and-a-half minutes quicker than world champion, Helen Parkinson. ‘It was really good,’ said Merrien.

‘I wanted to find an event where I could compete with the cream of the cream. It was my aim to beat her [Parkinson]. It’s a bit big-headed to look to beat a world champion and it was my first time, but I knew what I can do in triathlons.’