FORMER Rainford High School pupil Rachel Smith is going for gold.

She's been selected to represent Great Britain in the 2000 European Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Malmo, Sweden, on Saturday and Sunday, August 12 and 13.

Marketing manager Rachel, originally from Haresfinch, will be racing in the Premier Ladies Team and acting as a reserve for the mixed team.

A veteran racer, having competed in the last three World Championships in China (1995), Hong Kong (1997) and England (1999), she is one of only two women to have paddled in all three championships, winning seven European and World Championship medals (three silver and four bronze).

Rachel (30) who works for Capital Bank Marine in Chester, started dragon boat racing at school. She said: "I've been canoeing since my teens and have been involved in dragon boat racing since 1988, soon after it arrived in the UK.

"Dragonboating is a sport at which Great Britain excels, sometimes beating teams from the Far East at their own sport."