A DETERMINED young woman has qualified for the Ironman World Championship – a year after vowing to compete in the contest in memory of her niece.

As previously reported by The Gazette, Rosie Carter, from St Mary Bourne, was found dead in bed at a manor house she was staying in with her family in Tenby, Wales on September 8 last year.

The 19-year-old Nottingham University student was in Wales to watch her aunt Hollie Cradduck take part in the Ironman extreme triathlon, but died that day.

Hollie’s family kept the news of Rosie’s death from the 23-year-old until she crossed the finish line, so she would still be able to compete in the event.

Rosie said: “When I crossed the finish line, my mum told me Rosie had died in her sleep. I was devastated. I was really close to her.”

Hollie then vowed to reach the 2015 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, in memory of her niece.

And a year after making the promise, she has qualified as one of the fastest participants in her age group. The competition involves a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.

The Sky News media operator, who lives in St Mary Bourne, has vowed to raise money for Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) through the challenge.

Hollie told The Gazette: “I made this ridiculous goal to try and get there in Rosie’s memory and that gave me a focus to keep going.

“I set it as a challenge to honour Rosie but it was also a goal that seemed so unachievable and yet it has happened. It hasn’t sunk in yet. For me, this is a personal dream.”

She added: “To me, she (Rosie) was one of a kind. She was ridiculously friendly and she was really caring. I would like to raise £5,000 for SUDEP, and I have raised nearly £2,000 at the moment.”

Hollie will also be competing for Great Britain at the Middle Distance Triathlon European Championship in Mallorca on October 18.

To donate to Hollie’s effort, visit justgiving.com/ Hollie4Kona.