Running over mountains is just one of the disciplines Matthew Clough excels in; this week he will head to Canada to take part in the 2017 Junior Aquathlon World Championships. Photo supplied.Eight months into what has been a successful year for multi-sport athlete Matthew Clough, he is hoping to add another medal to his collection.

Come Sunday, Clough will have his bags packed and be flying off to Pentiction, Canada, to compete at the 2017 Junior Aquathlon World Championships.

Competing in the Under-19 Male category, Clough is hoping to equal or improve his third-place finish in Mexico last year.

“Obviously the dream goal is to win it, but to come back with a medal around my neck would be pretty special,” Clough said.

“Looking at the start list I would say I’ve got a good chance of doing well.”

Apart from four days off recently with the flu, Clough said his preparations for the event had been going well, training 11 times a week.

“You can race without a bit of training but you can’t race while feeling like crap so it was important to take the time to feel better,” he said.

Clough will either find himself working on speed or endurance, both in running and in the pool.

The Ashburton College student will have five days on Canadian soil to help get over any jet-lag and acclimatise ahead of the event.

“Before Mexico I hadn’t slept for 36 hours and that was a struggle,” he said.

“The flight to Vancouver leaves Auckland at 8pm so hopefully I will be able to get some sleep.”

Clough said going to the world champs was a great experience to be part of.

“It is quite cool being around people that are like you and being able to celebrate that,” he said.

“The NZ team are really good and there are plenty of meetings and activities to get to know everyone.”

For Clough, this is his biggest event of the year.

After a short break on returning from Canada, he will be turning his sights back on the two-day event in the Coast to Coast.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 16 August 2017