KIDDERMINSTER athlete Claire Cashmore is celebrating after securing her first World Paratriathlon Series gold.

The 31-year-old got the better of fellow Brit Lauren Steadman to claim victory in Montreal, Canada, last weekend.

Cashmore, who was born in Redditch, was award an MBE after bringing home swimming gold and silver medals from the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio but has swapped the pool for triathlon and has soon climbed the ranks.

Her win in the women's PTS5 category saw the closest finish of the day in Montreal.

Cashmore led the race out and got to T1 just ahead of Steadman before extending her lead at T2 after a good bike leg.

She completed the final run leg to secure victory ahead of Steadman with American Grace Norman in third.

Cashmore said: "I’m really pleased to have won my first ever World Paratriathlon Series gold medal.

“My preparations for the event went really well and I was feeling good on the start line.

“The Montreal course is pretty special, and it’s really cool to race on the F1 circuit. It really suited the way I race, and it was great to have Lauren pushing me the whole way. It was a really exciting finish but I’m so happy to have got that tape.”