BRITAIN'S first female triathlon World champion Leanda Cave will be in action in Dorset this weekend.

Cave has surprised the triathlon world by entering the 2003 Gatorade half Ironman UK at Sherborne Castle on August 31 as part of her build up to the defence of her Olympic Distance World title in New Zealand in December.

She said she regards the tough opposition and Sherborne Castle course as the perfect place to hone her racing skills ahead of the 2003 World Championships.

She said: "I am really excited to be competing in the Gatorade Half Ironman UK. The longer distance races and the high-class field are the sort of challenges I need to help me defend my title, but make no mistake I will be going for the win".

Ron Thorne, race director of the Dorset event said: "Leanda is a great athlete who had an unbelievable 2002 race season culminating in her win at the Olympic Distance World Championships.

"We are sure our top class field will provide her with the competition she needs in preparation to defend her title, but she will have to be at her best if she wants to add this UK title to her list of achievements."

Also included in an elite women's field are Lisbeth Kristensen who holds the record for the fastest debut time for an ironman

distance, Jess Draskau-Peterson and an array of top class international stars.

With the addition of Cave, spectators get the chance to see a free event with a highly competitive male and female field which also includes three times men's World Champion Spencer Smith.

* Extraordinary charity fund-raiser Jane Tomlinson is set to make sporting history at Sherborne as the first terminally-ill competitor to enter the gruelling world of Ironman Triathlon.

Mother of three Jane, whose fundraising achievements were recognised by the Queen with a birthday honours list MBE, is the surprise name among the 1,500 super-athletes taking part.

Jane, 39, who has been living with a terminal diagnosis since 2000 when her breast cancer returned after a ten year respite, admits that it's the toughest challenge she's ever undertaken in her remarkable fundraising campaign.