LAURA King, of Ilkley, has been selected to represent Great Britain at the 2018 Junior World Orienteering Championships in Hungary.

Competing at JWOC, as it is known, represents the highest challenge a junior can aspire to in the sport of orienteering.

A total of 36 countries will be competing, each with teams of up to six men and six women.

The 19-year-old former student of Ilkley Grammar School has represented GBR on several occasions at European level but this is her first opportunity to race against the top juniors on the world stage.

The competition is based near the city of Kecskemét in the Kiskunság National Park to the south-east of Budapest.

Following several days of acclimatisation, training and model events the real racing will begin.

Four styles of orienteering will be tested involving individual races over sprint, middle and long distances together with a team relay event.

Laura is a member of local orienteering club Airienteers and Edinburgh University Orienteering Club and is supported by the British Orienteering Talent Development Squad.

Her preparations for these Championships have included a rigorous schedule of winter training, injury management, gym sessions, training in Hungary to gain familiarity with the climate and unique terrain and then competing in the domestic selection races.

Hopefully, the recent heatwave will have helped the GBR athletes prepare for one of the challenges to successful racing, namely the heat.