Athletics Double medal delight for Lola on her Great Britain debut

OLA Simpson is celebrating a double medal success on her Great Britain debut at the European Biathle Championships in Turkey.

- Kevin FAHEY

Lola and Darcy Simpson in Turkey

The 14-year-old Bristol & West AC runner won silver in the pairs relay event and also team silver in the Under-15s competition.

The biathle event comprises an 800m run followed by a 100m sea swim and then another circuit of the 800m run.

Simpson showed that the skills she is developing with club coach Dan Lambourne are paying off handsomely as she finished fourth overall in the race and was one of the scoring three GB athletes as they finished behind hosts Turkey.

In the same event, twin sister Darcy, also representing GB, finished a creditable 10th.

For her pairs, silver Lola teamed up with Harriet Saunders, who is a very talented 1500m runner.

With the twins on overseas duty, it was left to Molly Thomas and Freya Smith to fly the flag for the club's young female athletes at the second Gwent League fixture, which was incorporated into the British Athletics Cross Challenge around Llandaff Fields, Cardiff.

Thomas finished third in the U20 women's race and is now leading that category after two meetings.

Smith was fourth in the U15s race and now lies second overall. Bee Reveler had a good run in 10th.