KIDDERMINSTER'S Claire Cashmore won her first paratriathlon world title with victory in Switzerland.

Cashmore, who was born in Redditch, won gold in the PTS5 category after beating British team-mate Lauren Steadman to the line after a brilliant battle in Lausanne at the sport's grand final last weekend.

The former Paralympic gold medalist didn’t have the best swim but fought hard on the bike leg to catch the then reigning world champion, Steadman.

As the race entered the run leg, the Brits were running side-by-side until Cashmore made a break for the finish line and sprinted ahead to take the title.

Cashmore said: “World champion sounds absolutely incredible to me. I still can’t quite believe it.

"My swim was awful and I got blown out the back and to be honest I didn’t think I had it in me and was beating myself up about it. On the bike I just kept catching and I managed to catch Lauren. We went out onto the run together the whole way. It cam to the final bit and I got my sprinting legs on and got to the finish.

“My bike has improved so much over the last few years and to be able to get a good bike split was what I wanted today.

"What better way to do it than at the world championships and to come here and win is amazing.”