VETERAN athlete Denise Farnham had the best possible preparation for the world biathle championships later this month when she lifted the national grand prix title in her age group.

The 48-year-old from Sturry, near Canterbury, finished the season undefeated in the women’s 40 to 50 category, winning all four grands prix she entered.

With each athlete’s best three results to count Farnham was a convincing winner in this, the first season the grand prix series has been held.

The biathle event comprises a 200m swim sandwiched between two 1,000m runs, and Farnham led from the start in Saturday’s fifth and final round at Weymouth.

The Medway and Maidstone AC member held a 30-second advantage as she entered the sea swim, and although her lead was pegged back, she stormed clear in the second run to triumph by 57 seconds in 11 minutes 46.25seconds.

Her previous grand prix wins were at Bath (twice) and Sandwell in the West Midlands and she will now be hoping to carry her form to Monaco where she competes in the world championship on Sunday, September 21.

Farnham will be bidding to compete a hat-trick of medal successes, having taken gold in Germany in 2001, and silver in Sardinia last year.