YOUNG Deane athlete Leah Peploe has been picked to represent Great Britain after finishing second in the British Junior Duathlon Championships.

The 16-year-old Ladybridge High School student will compete in the Sprint Duathlon European Championships next Sunday.

The event, which starts with a 5k run, followed by a 20k bike ride and ends with a 2.5k run, is taking place in Horst, Holland.

“It was a real surprise when we found out,” said Leah’s father, Paul. “We are all a bit new to this and we didn’t even know there was a chance of selection.”

Leah started out as a talented swimmer, first competing for Bolton Swimming Club when she was just six.

She progressed to the Bolton Metro Swim Squad when she was eight and it was through her swimming that Leah was recently asked to try out for the North West Triathlon Academy.

“It’s funny because the duathlon is Leah’s weakest discipline as there is no swim,” said her father.

“But she went on a training camp with the academy to Lazarote over the Easter holidays and the work she was able to do there made all the difference.”

Leah finished just behind Kate Curran in the national championships at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough, at the start of the month.

Both girls have been picked for Team GB’s three-strong squad for the European competition, alongside Georgina Schwiening, who did not compete at Loughbrough but was runner-up in last year’s European championships.

Paul has dedicated his daughter’s success to Wanderers captain Kevin Davies, whose charity, KiDs of Bolton, paid £440 towards the cost of her recent training camp in Lanzarote.

“The training camp was a fantastic experience and invaluable training for the coming season,” Paul said.

“This would not have been possible without KiDs of Bolton.”