Oxfordshire's Holly Rees-Lay was celebrating after striking gold three times in the British Biathlon Championships in Ruhpolding, Germany.

Rees-Lay, from Begbroke, competed in the event with few expectations on her first biathlon race on snow.

However, it proved a success for the 18-year-old, who won gold in the 7.5km youth sprint and 12.5km individual races, as well as the guest youth 10km classic race.

Rees-Lay, who is studying psychology at Reading University, was also second in the 10km mass start.

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She said: “I felt really happy because all my training had paid off, but really shocked because I’d only skied on snow twice before the competition!”

The teenager is now getting ready for a 7.5km cross country race in France next month, before starting preparations for the next winter season.

That will include 25 hours of training per week, mostly on roller skis with the Thames Valley Nordic Ski Club.

Next season, Rees-Lay is looking to break into the top three in the senior British championships and to win selection for the junior world championships.

However, the 2016 finals may be too early for Rees-Lay, who has been skiing for less than a year.

That means the 2018 winter Olympics may be a more realistic goal.

Rees-Lay has to travel to Maidenhead to train three times a week, as well as training camps in Huntly and Aviemore in Scotland, and also to Austria and Norway to practice on snow, so is looking for sponsorship.

Contact Rees-Lay at hollyyrl@gmail.com or her dad, at mike@reeslay.co.uk