Anna Anderson qualified for the 2011 World Triathlon Championships in Beijing after winning the Age 20-24 class at the Dorney Tri Challenge.

The event was at Eton College Rowing Centre, the location for the London 2012 Olympics, and Anna was taking part in the sprint class incorporating half of the standard Olympic distances.

The 22-year-old Pendle Athletic Club star, from Wycollar, is still a novice at the event and this was her first open water swim after just three competitions earlier in the year at Hull, Skipton (which she won) and then a week ago when she was second in the Pendle Triathlon, based at the West Craven Sports Centre in Barnoldswick.

Nevertheless she showed strong form in the swim, exiting the water the sixth woman after the 750m was safely negotiated in 11:39.

The 20 kilometre bike ride took 40:53 before she finished with 20:25 for the five kilometre run – which gave her a total time of 1:14:55 including a couple of minutes in transition.

Anderson built her reputation on the fells and represented England on several occasions as a junior, but she has also been the Lancashire Cross Country Champion and the Lancashire County and Lancashire Schools’ Champion over 3000 metres on the track.

While studying at Westholme School in Blackburn she was a member of the school team that swum the English Channel in a relay.

She has only recently taken up the triathlon while studying physiotherapy at Leeds Met, where she represents the University Triathlon Club.

She will travel to China in September with her mum Ginny.