Blackpool wheelchair racing star, Shelly Woods, hopes to take bite out of her marathon time when she competes in the Big Apple this Sunday.

The ambitious 19-year-old has been training hard for her November 6 New York Marathon debut, and despite being new to the course, she's aiming for another good result to round off a year of sparkling form.

Some commentators are already predicting the Blackpool Council modern apprentice could go head to head with last year's NY winner, Switzerland's Edith Hunkeler. The pair last raced against each other in the Berlin Marathon in September, in which Shelly scooped fourth place.

Shelly's storming season so far includes breaking the British record for the half marathon and 5000 metres, first place in the Great North Run together with a new course record, first place in the Great South Run, second place in the Flora London Marathon and a bronze medal in the European Championships in Finland.

However, the hard-working young athlete expects to be 'at a slight disadvantage' in the ING New York City Marathon because she's tackling a new route.

She'll be watched by around two million spectators along the route, and an expected 260 million television viewers worldwide.

Shelly, who works in the Leisure Services department at Blackpool Council, said: "My coach Jason Gill cannot attend the race but my mum, Carol, is coming with me so we can do a bit of sight-seeing and hit the shops after the race.

"I have already started to study the course and I know there are some tricky turns and bridges on the route, but I will be at a slight disadvantage because I have never raced in the New York marathon before.

"My coach and I have been working on a race strategy but a lot will depend on the other competitors on the day.

"The New York Marathon is the race of the year with the best competitors in the world taking part and I think it will be a really exciting race. Any one of the athletes could win and it is fair to say that tensions will be running high."

Cllr David Owen, the council's portfolio holder for leisure, culture and community learning, added: "Shelly is a gifted sports person who deserves continued success. As the racing season has progressed, we have seen her grow in confidence and get some great accolades under her belt.

"No matter what the weather, Shelly is outside putting herself through a rigorous and gruelling training programme and we, at Blackpool Council, will give her every support to help her reach the top."

Organisers of the marathon have also highlighted Shelly as 'Britain's rising star of wheelchair racing' on their official website which is: www.ingnycmarathon.org/home/index.php in the Athlete/Wheeler Bios section.