EMMA Taylor is celebrating becoming a world champion in her first race for Great Britain.

The 26-year-old Skipton health worker took the women’s 25-29 title in the recent ITU World Duathlon Championship at Aviles in Spain –and she didn’t even realise she had done it.

“It was only afterwards when my mother rang and said she had seen the results and I had won, that I realised what I had achieved.

“I was very much caught up in the occasion. It was the first time that I had run for my country and only the second duathlon I had attempted.”

The sprint duathlon race compromised of a 5km run, followed by 20km bike ride and a further 2.5km run.

She said: “It was a flat and technical course, different to what I am used to at home, and it was all very new to me.

“There were staggered starts for each of the men’s and women’s age groups and it meant that there were hundred of athletes on the course.

“On the cycling leg I got myself in the peleton and was virtually being pulled along. I can recall being surrounded by male riders and thinking that I didn’t see any women athletes either in front or immediately behind me.

“The final run was short and sharp and I just went for it and now I am a world champion.”

Emma, who works as Health Promotion & Navigation Officer for Craven General Practices, (Dyneley House Surgery, Fisher Medical Centre & Cross Hills Group Practice), has won automatic qualification for next year’s World Championships in Canada.

But her sudden success means she is now having to look for a coach to help her with her training and to find ways of securing sponsorship and funding.

“I have just trained myself up until now but I will need to work with a coach if I am to improve,” she said.

While she comes to terms with her amazing success, Taylor is preparing for her next challenge which isn’t one for the feint hearted.

She is tackling next month’s Alpe d’Huez half ironman event in France. It involves a 2km open water swim, a 65-mile cycle ride in The Alps and 13 mile run around the summit.

Taylor, who is the current record holder for the world’s hardest half ironman title which she won at Wasdale last year, is looking forward to the challenge.

“It is going to be tough or many reasons. The water temperature will be pretty cold for the swim, there is 1,800 metres of climbing on the bike, plus a half marathon at high altitude.

“There isn’t anywhere that I can really prepare totally for the challenge but I am doing a lot of running up Malham.”