A SPORTY County Durham teacher is flying Down Under hoping to repeat one of Britain's golden moments from last year's Olympics.

Among the Great Britain medal haul at the Sydney games was Denise Lewis's gold in the heptathlon, the seven event all-round test of track and field ability.

Chester-le-Street teacher Gill Dobson set off on the long flight to Australia yesterday bidding for another Great Britain heptathlon success, this time in the World Veterans' Championships.

The competition for athletes aged 35 and over, last staged in Gateshead two years ago, takes place in Brisbane, Queensland, from Wednesday, and will last ten days.

Gill was fifth in the 40 to 44 year old category in the multi-event category in Gateshead, in 1999, but heads to the southern hemisphere in confident mood, having now moved up to the 45 to 49 age group.

"I've done combined events before, but this is the first time they have had the heptathlon in the World Veterans' Championships.

"I'm ranked as number one in Britain in multi-events, but I really don't know how good the competition will be in heptathlon in Brisbane," said Gill, a member of Jarrow and Hebburn Athletics Club.

Gill hopes to be in contention after day one, on Wednesday, following the hurdles, 200m, high jump and shot putt. But she really expects to make strides on Thursday with her best events, the 800m, long jump and javelin.

Should she fail to land a medal she will have a second chance on July 10 when she is one of 21 competitors in the women's javelin event.

Gill travels with the good wishes, and blessing for leave during term time, of the board of governors, colleagues and pupils at The Hermitage School, Chester-le-Street, where she is coordinator of lifelong learning.

Her travelling companion and mentor in Brisbane is 16-year-old daughter Kate, who has just completed her GCSE exams at The Hermitage.

Left behind, at home in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, is envious husband, Barry, and sons, Matthew and Daniel, who will be rooting for Gill from afar.