Former Watford Harrier Hannah Kitchen secured her second gold medal at the ETU Aquathlon European Championships on Saturday, extending her podium run at the event to four successive years.

The event, which took place in Slovakia, saw a big weekend of British success.

Their hopes of elite success before the race lay with the former Watford Grammar School for Girls pupil.

Having won silver, gold and bronze over the past three years, this was an she has an impressive record in.

She continued that run on Saturday and did so with a return to the top step of podium, taking the top gong by a narrow margin of seven seconds.

Kitchen talked about how tough this event was as she said: “It was a great trip to Bratislava, I had a little pressure on me as I was ranked number one but was confident if I executed my best swim and run that I am capable off I would be able to produce a good result.

“There was great support from the GB age group team and I was delighted with the win.

“It was a 1k open water swim made up of two laps, I led the first lap but was then overtaken on the second by a Hungarian.

“I felt good in the water and tucked onto her feet to exit the swim in second and out onto the run about five seconds down.

“I decided I would track the Hungarian therefore running in control until perhaps 2k to go, however we were rapidly being chased down by a young Slovakian and I was worried if we didn’t keep the pace up we’d be caught.

“With 3k to go I made a quick decision to go for it and overtook the Hungarian and took the lead. “From there it was a case of don’t look back and keep the pace up!

“It was a tough 5k course with 5x1k laps each made up of 2x500m with dead turns which disrupted the rhythm but also meant you could see your competitors numerous times.

“I managed to cross the line with just seven seconds to spare fishing ahead of the Slovakian, who had caught the Hungarian.

“It was an exciting but tough race.”

However, there is no respite for the young athlete as she is back in action this weekend before taking on other events in June and July.

“Next up is the British Championships this weekend at Blenheim,” said Kitchen.

“I’m then racing in Cardiff at the end of June and in the French Grand Prix.

“And I am at the London Tri in July before some European Cup races in August.”

There was good news elsewhere for the British age-group, which is managed by Hannah’s father, Ian Kitchen, as they collected a huge haul of 37 medals. Eleven of those were gold and Chloe Pollard set the fastest female Age-group time of the day.