Mountain bronze for Sarah

3:03pm Thursday 17th July 2008

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KIRKBY Stephen physiotherapist Sarah Tunstall turned in the best performance of her mountain running career to date to win bronze in the European championships at Zell am Harmersbach in Germany over the weekend.

The 23-year-old athlete, who represents Kendal AC, also led Great Britain's women to team gold with a truly outstanding performance that "exceeded her expectations."

"I didn't know what to expect really," said Sarah, who was 17th in the World Championships at Ovrannaz in Switzerland last year. "I would have been delighted to have finished in the first ten."

Sarah took the lead on the descent off the first hill and held on to it for virtually all of the first lap before she was overtaken by the eventual race winner, Italy's Elisa Desco, who completed the two lap course in 40 minutes dead.

France's Constance Devilliers (40-18) passed Sarah mid way round the second lap and kept pulling away on the climbs to build up a 30 second gap at the finish.

Sarah was ably supported by team mates Victoria Wilkinson (5th in 41-28), Katie Ingham (9th in 42-00) and Candice Leah (17th in 43-05).