A MIDDLEWICH athlete is hoping to be a world champion by the end of the week.

Andy Eaton, of Holmes Chapel Road, travels to Lausanne, Switzerland, to race in Sunday's World Triathlon Championships, where he will power through three energy-sapping sports, one after the other.

He starts with a swim of 1500 metres, followed by a 10km run, saving enough energy for a 40km cycle ride to take him home.

Andy, who competes for the One Vision club, based in Market Drayton, has been to the world finals once before and qualified this year after an impressive showing at the national trials in June.

He said: "They select a top 12 in each five-year age band so the sport can be quite generous in that way.

"It's difficult to balance work as it involves complete commitment. You sacrifice a lot of things because you have to be very dedicated and as I have had to fund the trip to Switzerland myself, it has been a struggle.

"I wrote to a few companies in Middlewich asking for help but had no replies. That's why I'm thankful to CATS Opticians for putting some money up for me."

Andy's coach Chris Jones has worked out a well-balanced programme to help him manage his time to good effect, which involves 20 hours a week training and twice-daily visits to the swimming pool.

The 36-year-old feels his best hope in the gruelling triathlon trek is the cycle ride, as it runs up a steep, bumpy slope. These are the conditions which he feels he is well suited to - but can he take the world crown?

He said: "The best athletes in the world will be there so it will be tough but there is a very hilly bike ride which can be severe.

"I prefer that type of terrain so it could be advantageous. The cobbles will also make it tricky and could cause a few accidents, breaking up the field into packs.

"I've only been doing the shorter distance for a year so my selection is the fruition of a hard year's work. I'm happy just to be there."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.