Malvern St James student Sarah Ellis has been selected to represent Great Britain in the U16 events of the French Marathon Championships at Reims on October 13 and 14.

The 14-year-old from Pershore has been selected following her outstanding performances in the recent UK National Marathon and Sprint Kayaking Championships.

Having achieved a bronze medal in the kayak singles and gold in the kayak pairs at the UK National U14 Girls Marathon Championships in August, Ellis won bronze in the kayak singles, silver in the pairs and gold in the four.

She is one of only two U14 girls who have been selected for the U16 team of four competing in the U16 event in October.

She said: “All the hard work that I have put in over the last year with lots of training sessions and practice on perfecting my technique paid off, with some great results in the recent UK National Age Group Championships.

“I am really looking forward to representing GB next month in the U16 National Marathon Championships taking place in France, and taking on the French and some other European Junior paddlers.

“The races will be over eight miles with three portages where I have to get out of my boat and run with it some distance before getting back in again.

“Malvern St James has given me fantastic support and encouragment.”