Woman marks 80th birthday with waterski slalom

Conditions were too rough for the full course but Celia Kent still managed to take to the water on her monoboard

A woman from north London has marked her 80th birthday in a "thrilling" manner by slalom waterskiing.

Celia Kent, from Islington, had hoped to take on the full course at her club in West Sussex, but strong winds forced her to stick to a more sheltered bay on Ivy Lake.

She said she loved the sport because of its speed - although she said she "doesn't go very fast".

“It’s just thrilling, especially if you do manage to get through the course, the sense of achievement."

She says she "doesn't go very fast" but finds it "thrilling"

She said everyone at the Chichester club was supportive: “There’s no feeling that you’re an old bat who shouldn’t be down here."

Ms Kent's coach, Brett Hodgkins - who has World, European and British titles in waterskiing and wakeboarding - said his octogenarian protegee "transcends time with her agility and her ability to be on a slalom ski, she’s amazing”.