FIVE triathlons a year may seem a tough to most of us but it's a task Rachel Jones expects to tak in her stride.

Rachel, of Singleton Close, Preston is one of the top triathletes in the country and is now in training to compete in the World Age Group Triathlon Championship in Madeira in May.

She is already the world champion at the duathlon which involves cycling and running and is confident she can beat the world's best at triathlon.

The event will be over the standard Olympic course of 1500m swim followed by a 40km bike race and a 10km run.

Rachel spends around three hours each day training for the event which means she will often go swimming for an hour in the morning at West View Leisure Centre before going to her job at Jobcentre Plus, Preston. When she finishes work its time for her to put in the hours running and cycling. The event in Madeira is only one of several competitions across the world that she will be taking part in this year. She is off to Belgium for a duathlon later in May before heading off to Italy for a biathlon event in June. Then there is the European duathlon event which is closer to home in Swansea.

Rachel has been selected as a member of the sponsored Tri UK Gatorade triathlon team in 2004.

Being a team member means she has to take part in five triathlon events a year but that's no problem for Rachel.

She said: "I'm looking forward to it. You get to travel all around the world to lots of lovely places and compete against the best in the world.

"I have been running for years but only started doing triathlons three years ago because I fancied doing something a bit more interesting.

"I think I can be world champion in my age group. It will be hot and hilly in Madeira but I've competed in South Africa before when it was hot and it's a lot better than doing it in the cold and rain!"