TEENAGE athlete Kiera Tippett completed a remarkable season with a bronze medal at the European Aquathlon Championships last weekend.

The 17-year-old from Benfleet was in sparkling form as she was the third girl home in the 16-19-years-old category in the competition held in Chateauroux, France.

Tippett even secured a personal best in her 5k run, completing the course in 19 minutes and 20 seconds, as she topped off the last few months in style.

The youngster has already been crowned British Sprint Triathlon Champion, English National Aquathlon Champion and came fifth in the European Triathlon Championships earlier in the year.

And Tippett said even she was surprised at her results this year.

“It has been amazing,” she said. “I never expected to do this well. I have a trophy cabinet at home and I looked at it the other day and I couldn’t believe how well this year had gone.

“We drove to France and it was a 12-hour journey and was 35 degrees when we arrived so I was praying it wasn’t going to be that hot on the day of the race.

“It cooled to about 25 degrees and that meant the swim was a non-wetsuit as it was too hot, which was different but it didn’t affect me.

“I was nervous before hand but as soon as the horn went off I wasn’t nervous and I just made sure I left it all out there.

“I saw someone 50 seconds in front of me and I could see them on the two lap course and I was knew I was gaining. I made up 42 seconds in the end and I was so glad with a new PB for a 5k run, especially after a swim.”

The event was Tippett’s final international one of the year, before stepping up a level come the end of the year.

Her 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run will become a 1500m swim, 40km bike ride and a 10km run in the standard distance triathlon, and Tippett says the jump means she will need help from local sponsors, due to increased costs.

“It has been a busy period for me so a rest will be very welcome,” she said. “But when I get back to training I will have to step up a lot and unfortunately I will need a lot more money.

“I have been given a lot of help from (Southend firm) Sovereign Play Equipment and I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have done this year without them. Any help would be very gratefully received.”

Anyone interested in sponsoring Tippett can email kieratippett@gmail.com