UNIVERSITY is a time to learn, explore and try new things, and a Ruthin student who did just that unexpectedly found herself representing Team GB in an even less likely sport.

Holly Slater, 19, travelled to Thailand to compete at the 14th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships against teams from 40 countries, including China, Myanmar, Canada and Australia.

There were no fewer than 3,000 participants at the global competition for racing on dragon boats, which originates in ancient China, but was only established as a sport in 2007.

It is similar to rowing, involving teams of 10 or 20 people that use paddles to power a long Chinese Dragon-themed boat, with a pacemaker banging a drum at the front and a steerer at the back.

When done successfully, the boats move quickly along set distances ranging from 500 metres to 2,000 metres.

Holly has always loved swimming, having represented Denbighshire at county level, but unsurprisingly she had never heard of dragon boat racing until she went to the University of Bangor and tried it out on the advice of a friend there.

The former Ysgol Brynhyfryd pupil put her swimming training to use and took to the boat sport like a fish in water. She started practising in Liverpool and then took part in qualification for the world championship event.

Holly, who now studies zoology, said it is “a great honour” to represent Great Britain and while Wales is not represented as an individual country at the World Championships she was still “flying the Welsh flag wherever possible”.

Her father Gary said the cost of the trip was about £2,000, which included the Union Jack kit, accommodation, flights and living expenses.

“I was amazed at the intensity of it,” Mr Slater said. “Holly had some late nights training and she was exhausted, but nothing is worth having if you don’t put the work in.

“We are extremely proud of her.”