MICHELLE Parsons won her first national title in Sutton Coldfield last Sunday winning the ladies open event in the Tropicana UK Cross Training 2000 Challenge.

Not only did she beat the rest of the field by over one minute she also set a new course record time of 15 minutes and 33 seconds.

This surpassed the previous best time set by former Gladiator, Tammy Marie Baker (aka Fox), by over ten seconds.

The event comprised ten separate gym disciplines including exercises such as chin ups, alternate leg squat thrusts, behind the head shoulder press, and rowing, as well as 800m on a treadmill on a 6% incline to finish.

All disciplines are run consecutively (ie with no rest in between) against a running clock, which makes the event probably the toughest test of strength, stamina and fitness.

Michelle followed up her exploits in the individual event by helping her team 'Team Future Fitness' take third place in the team event later in the afternoon.

Michelle trains at One on One Fitness Centre in Evesham, who regularly hold similar fitness events themselves and their co-ordinator Stuart Leng hopes to take their events onto the national stage by inviting the top athletes to their events.

The Puma Dream Team Challenge is Michelle's next competition where she is competing as part of a team of four, which includes Christine Tooze beaten into second place by Michelle on Sunday.

The preliminary rounds are being held at the David Lloyd Centre in Birmingham in two weeks time.