TROWBRIDGE is rallying behind homegrown sporting star Caitlin Wosika, 16, as she prepares to jet off to Florida to compete for Great Britain in the World Biathle championships.

After the Wiltshire Times covered Caitlin’s success in qualifying for the event, local couple Fred and Jan Dapson stepped forward to offer the Hilperton teenager a donation towards the costs of the trip.

“We saw it in the paper and thought we would like to help,” said Mrs Dapson. “It’s amazing what Caitlin does.”

Caitlin, who trains with Team Bath, will be tackling two 1600m runs split by a 200m swim in Sarasota, Florida, having moved up an age group since she last competed internationally for GB.

Then she was delighted to take the gold medal in the European championships in Portugal in July 2014.

“It’s lovely of people to want to help,” said her mum Jane, who will be flying out to America with her on October 19 for the event, which runs from October 21-23.

“Before we went to the qualifier for the last world championships I said it wasn’t something we could fund.

“I then said if she qualified for the American one we could save up and go. But it is expensive. For a start she’s had to have a whole new GB kit, she’d grown out of it all.”