LLANDRINDOD Wells super runner Heidi Davies has her sights set on achieving new heights after her latest successes on the mountain running circuit.

She recently competed in a major event in Slovenia, the European Mountain Running Championships, running for Great Britain, and finished in 9th place, helping the junior women to the team gold medal.

She has also taken part in the World Mountain Running Championships, in Premana, Italy, running for GB, and finishing in 8th place.

Next year she hopes to step up to the seniors, competing in European and World Championships. However, she has had a foretaste of this having taken part in the FlettaTRAIL Malonno race, in Italy, her first ever major senior race, which covered 21km and included 1,100 metres of ascent and descent.

Of that first senior race in Italy, she said: “I was delighted to finish in sixth place behind some top national senior team Italian mountain runners.

“It was probably my most enjoyable race ever with the atmosphere and feel of the whole

event being so inspiring.

“My other senior race was the 3Rifugi relay race held in Collina, Italy. This consisted of an uphill leg, a leg across the mountains, using Via Ferrata, and a downhill leg.

“I was on the anchor downhill leg for the unofficial GB team, finishing in seventh place. For my next goal, I hope to have a solid cross country season across the British Cross Challenge Series, setting me up for another summer on the mountains next year.”

Heidi, is sponsored in her running by The Metropole Hotel and Rock Spa. She said of their support: “I’d like to say a big thank you to The Metropole Hotel for their support, particularly the use of the Rock Spa gym and swimming pool facilities.

“I will forever be grateful for the support from home and the community links such as this, which enable me to chase my running dreams on the mountains abroad.

Justin Baird-Murray, managing director of The Metropole Hotel and Rock Spa said: “We have sponsored Heidi for a number of years now, and are very happy to see her go from strength to strength.

“She is also working for us in our spa here in her spare time, so our links have become even closer.”

The Metropole, situated in the elegant town of Llandrindod Wells, truly is a family affair. Current owners, Justin Baird-Murray and his sister, Sarah, are the fifth generation of their family to be running this handsome mid Wales establishment.

The Metropole was purchased by the siblings’ great, great, grandmother, Elizabeth Miles, in 1896.

Mrs Miles extended the hotel considerably, and by 1923, the hotel was the largest in Wales. Today it remains a significant landmark in the centre of Llandrindod.

Heidi is also supported by inov-8, Sports Aid, Welsh Athletics and RWG Mobile.