Schoolgirl Catherine King has overcome leukaemia to compete in a national motorcycle competition.

Catherine, 14, from Uphill Farm, Urchfont, recently came second in her first ever Motocross race at Tormarton in Bath to qualify for the national competition in Gloucester over the weekend of September 12 and 13.

She was competing on her Honda 150cc BW (big wheel) in a race for 13 to 15-year-olds against competitors from as far afield as Holland and Canada. Catherine has been riding since she was nine but this was her first competition. She said: “I have been waiting for ages for this and it was brilliant.”

The Lavington School pupil was delighted with her result, despite stalling once and then coming off her bike as she was in contention for first place. She said: “My dad was jumping for joy. This was a very big achievement as when I was younger I had cancer. I always wanted to race and now I am.”

Catherine’s father Charlie, himself a former Wessex grass track racing champion, said he was astonished at his daughter’s early success.

He said: “I am surprised she got to this level so quick. She was competing against boys as well as girls.”

Catherine, who has three sisters, was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 18 months and she spent two years in hospital undergoing treatment followed by seven years of check ups.

Mr King said: “It was a very worrying time for us all. She was only given a 50/50 chance. But she has now been given the all-clear and can get on with her life.”