ATHLETE Walter Busutill is heading for Italy to fly the flag for Britain.

He will be flying to Rimini to represent his country in the World Duathlon Championships.

The gruelling event will see him complete a 10-kilometre run, followed by a 40-kilometre cycle race and then another run of five kilometres.

Mr Busutill, who lives at Bagby near Thirsk and is a computer administrator at the Kerfoot Group in Northallerton, will compete in the 45 to 49 years age group.

At the 2001 championships he came 30th out of 73 finishers in his age range, with a time of just over two hours.

“Although I was a bit disappointed with that, I still finished seventh out of the 17 Great Britain representatives who competed,”

he said.

“The summer training and racing has gone fairly well, despite a few injury niggles and concerns. I’m aiming to finish in the top 20 in my age group and in the top five in my age group within the GB team.

“I have competed in four duathlons and four triathlons of varying distances this year, as well as doing a couple of 10-kilometre and a 10-mile running races.

“Although I have finished just outside the over 40 age group prizes on three out of the four triathlons, I was very pleased to finish third in my own triathlon club’s event – the Black Sheep Ripon Triathlon back in July.”

The Kerfoot Group has provided sponsorship towards the cost of Walter’s trip to the World Duathlon Championships.