WEYMOUTH grandmother Linda Ashmore has become the oldest British woman to complete a full Ironman in Cascais, Portugal.

In doing so, Ashmore, 75, has qualified for the Ironman World Championships to be held in Kona, Hawaii in October next year.

Not only did Ashmore complete the Ironman Portugal but did it well within the 16-hour cut-off time in 14 hours 41 minutes and 10 seconds.

Speaking to Echosport after carving out her own slice of history, she said: “I’m dead chuffed but I don’t tend to go for records. I see a record and I want to break it. That’s my motivation.

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“I love the training but I wouldn’t be out training unless I had a goal. It’s sort of a love/hate relationship really.

“Once I’m out, I love it. It’s just getting out the door.

“I won’t be the oldest woman to do an Ironman, that’s (Sister Madonna Buder) she was 82 when she did hers.”

She added: “Age is just a number. Anything is possible.”

A full ironman comprises of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride plus a full 26.2-mile marathon.

Ashmore has also qualified for the other three distances in triathlons and is aiming, next year, to become world champion in all four.

Ashmore also qualified for the 70.3 Ironman – half distance – in Weymouth in September, beating her previous best time at this distance.

Ashmore now has her sights set on the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii and the 70.3 Worlds in Utah – only a matter of weeks apart.

She added: “It’s crazy because it’s Hawaii at the beginning of October and the half-Ironman is now in Utah at the end of October.

“I’m going to stay out there but I’m hoping the body will recover in time.

“It’ll be doing next to nothing but just spinning the legs, keeping moving. I do recover quite quickly, I’m fortunate in all sorts of ways.”

Recovery is a key word for Ashmore, who was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 66, as well as osteoporosis.

Ashmore was hooked by British triathlon success in the 2012 Olympics, Alistair and Jonny Brownlee taking gold and bronze respectively.

Ashmore completed her first triathlon aged 68 and has not looked back since, becoming a regular fixture at the worlds in Hawaii.