ISLE of Wight specialist skeleton athlete Kimberley Murray has been chosen to represent Great Britain for this year’s opening World Cup races.

Kimberley joins up with South Korea Winter Games bronze medallist Laura Deas and Maddy Smith as the team looks to build on last season’s huge success.

“The strength in depth in the squad this season is something we’re very proud of,” said British Skeleton’s interim performance director, Natalie Dunman.

“Kim has impressed on the other circuits and fully deserves her chance to shine this season."

There are just two World Cup races before Christmas this year, with the calendar kicking off in Sigulda, Latvia on December 8 and 9, before moving to Winterberg, Germany, the following week.

On social media, Kim, was delighted with her selection.

She said: "Looking forward to making the most of this exciting opportunity."

The competition returns after the festive break with four straight European races on successive weekends in January before concluding with a race apiece in America and Canada in February.

The showpiece event of the season, the World Championships, takes place in Whistler, Canada, in early March.

Selection for the start of the World Cup campaign comes on the back of a two-heat qualifying race in Winterberg on Saturday.

"The race was due to have been held over four runs in two different venues but the previous week’s race in Lillehammer, Norway, was cancelled due to poor weather.

“The weather conditions in Europe made pre-season sliding difficult but the squad and staff have adapted brilliantly,” said Head of Performance, Danny Holdcroft.

“They have made the most of the opportunities the weather afforded and they’ve dealt with the mental side of things exceptionally. That bodes well for the season ahead as skeleton is never straightforward.”