SHONSEL Ballard is off to Sin City for the experience of a lifetime.

But rather than a spin on the roulette table, the Trowbridge triathlete will be hoping Lady Luck favours her during a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and a 21km run.

The 27-year-old, a member of town’s Hot Chilli Tri club, will be jetting off to Las Vegas to compete in the World Ironman 70.3 Championships on September 8.

Ballard earned her World Championship debut by finishing third in the 25-29 age group at the Ironman 70.3 UK race at Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor last month and is now looking forward to chancing her hand on the international stage.

“I am really excited about going to the World Championships and I’m glad the nerves haven’t kicked in yet,” said Ballard, who works as a personal trainer, physiotherapist and triathlon coach.

“(At Wimbleball) you don’t find out straight away where you’ve placed, so I had to wait until the results were announced and when I realised I’d come third, I was absolutely ecstatic.

“I’d love to say I have a chance of winning (in Las Vegas) but realistically that isn’t the case. There are some fantastic triathletes out there, who are literally miles ahead of me but that’s not to say that I’m not going to give it my all and put in the best performance I can.

“I’m going there to make the most of what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity and leave with no regrets.”

Trowbridge triathlete Kenny Brown has qualified for the World Sprint Triathlon Championships in London (in September) after winning the 55-59 age group at the Bristol Harbourside Triathlon.

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