CRICKLADE’S Emma-Kate Lidbury ended the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Florida at the weekend on a drip in the medical tent, writes Danny Hall.

Delirious? Yes, but with happiness, because this relative novice in such a brutal sport had just finished tenth against the best women triathletes in the world.

It’s boom time for Britain in triathlon, particularly in the female section, and five of the top ten home were British, including the impressive winner by more than six minutes, Jodie Swallow and runner-up Leanda Cave.

Having recovered from her spell with the medics, Emma-Kate reflected on her marvellous effort in only her second season as a professional triathlete.

“I have to say a huge thank you to the medical staff who did such a brilliant job of looking after me,” said Lidbury.

“Unfortunately, I got to spend far too long with them.

“Despite laying flat on my back with an IV in each arm, icy cold towels around my head and surrounded by people taking my pulse, blood pressure and who knows what else, I dared to let myself smile.

“It was probably just some dehydration and overheating but nothing could take away what a great race I had on Saturday.

“To finish in the top ten at my first Ironman 70.3 World Championships as a pro athlete was very special.”

For the record, Lidbury finished the course (1.2mile swim; 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run) in a time of 4hr 22min 55 sec, while Swallow posted 4:06.28.

Lidbury, who was third in the English and Belgian Ironman 70.3 qualifying events earlier this season, is already planning to move up the leader board at next year’s World Championships which moves to Las Vegas.

“There is plenty of room for improvement and at least ten things I can think of which I could have done better or differently,” she said.

“I’m extremely excited about what the future holds.

“It was tough from the start and my swim wasn’t quite as strong as I’d hoped it might be. I was tenth out of the water in the main chasing pack in a time of 27.21.

“Out on the bike I felt strong and thought I’d be able to make up a few places which proved right. My bike split of 2:20.10 brought me up to seventh place going into Transition 2.

“My legs didn’t feel too special on the first of the two-lap run course but I eventually found some rhythm and hoped to start picking up the pace when I began having stomach problems.

“A couple of girls had already passed me and, as the problems continued to plague me for the remainder of the run, I was a little disappointed to drop from ninth to tenth in the closing mile.

“My run split of 1:31 wasn’t terrible given the circumstances but I know I am capable of far faster.

“I must give huge thanks to my sponsors Wiggle, Virtua and Morris Owen, without whose support I couldn’t have achieved the results I did this season.”