AN amateur triathlete who only took up the sport last year is to race on the world stage in September.

Wroughton-based Matt Fisher is gearing up for the heat of Beijing having qualified for the World Sprint Triathlon Age Group Championships.

The 37-year-old, who races for the Marlborough And District Triathlon Club (MAD-Tri), secured a place in the Great Britain Age Group team at the National Sprint Triathlon Championships at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire recently.

Beijing will be Fisher’s second chance to don GB colours, having already competed for his country at the European Duathlon Championships in Ireland in April this year.

“I’m incredibly honoured and excited to be going to represent my country in Beijing,” said Fisher.

“The conditions in China are going to be extremely challenging, as we’re not used to much in the way of heat and humidity in Swindon, but I’m determined to put in a performance to be proud of.”

The championships will take place on September 10 in the Changping district, just outside Beijing, and Fisher, who is sponsored by Swindon triathlon shop The Big Adventure Store, is looking for other local sponsors to help him make the start line.

“As an age group athlete, we don’t receive any support or funding from the British Triathlon Federation,” he explained.

“It’s up to each individual competitor to fund their travel, accommodation and race equipment.”

Any potential sponsors can find out more about Fisher and his racing exploits at ww.triathletesdiary.com.