Ian Coupland going to world duathlon championships

Coupland will be on the medal hunt in Edinburgh

Ian Coupland, who was unable to fund his place in the last world duathlon championships in Sydney, has been picked for the 2010 event in Edinburgh.

"I simply couldn't afford to self-fund a trip to Australia - so Edinburgh's handy," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

The 40-year-old fireman at RAF Shawbury has been putting in extra hours' training to fulfil his dream.

"I'm hoping for top 10, but I can still dream about beating some of the top Europeans for a medal," he said.

The duathlon comprises two bike races sandwiching a run.

Coupland took up the sport after progressing from 'conventional' athletics in his home town of Shrewsbury.

"The duathlon is more difficult physically than the triathlon because it's all legs - and even though I'm used to it now, it can be very difficult going straight from biking to running - you can be prone to cramps, pulls, all sorts," he said.

Coupland secured his place in the world finals by winning gold in his age group at the British Championships in Nottingham.

Up to 1,000 competitors will be competing for six world titles in Edinburgh in the first weekend in September, as well as 27 different age-group medals.

The exact courses round the Scottish capital have yet to be confirmed, but organisers are claiming it will be one of the most challenging ever used for a duathlon world championships.