A WEYMOUTH grandmother has become a world champion at the age of 81.

Pella Rye, of St Michael’s Court, has just returned from Australia where she won gold for the long distance orienteering World Masters Championships.

In the challenging outdoor adventure sport, Mrs Rye had to navigate between control points marked on a map and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time.

Two qualifying races had to be completed roughly covering 1.8 kilometres and Mrs Rye completed the first in 41 minutes and the second in 98 minutes.

Mrs Rye only recently recovered from an achilles tendon injury, but managed to finish with the fastest speed.

She has been competing for years but this is the first time that she came out top in a championship event.

The World Masters Orienteering Champion-ships take place in a different country every year and Mrs Rye has travelled to Portugal, Denmark, Austria and France among many other places to take part.

She said she always participates in the championships in Australia because she has family over there and plans her visits around the race.

Mrs Rye, who is part of the Wessex Orienteering Club based in the Poole and Bournemouth area, had to work hard to get fit again after her injury and so felt this was a great achievement.

She said: “I was pretty pleased that I won and all my family were really happy for me.

“I’d really encourage people to get involved in orienteering because you can go on doing it forever almost.

“I have a friend who took part in a race for the over 90s category last year and she’s still at it.

“I don’t ever train for the races but I generally walk a lot and occasionally break into a run if nobody is looking.

“Weymouth gives you a fair bit of exercise going up and down the hills.”

Her daughter, Su Lewis, 53, said: “I am so proud of my mum and how hard she’s worked.

“A gold medal is really something to celebrate.”

If you are interested in joining the Wessex Orienteering Club contact Richard Arman on 01202 695937.