A FORMER Dollar Academy teacher will be going for gold next week at the ICF Canoe Marathon Masters' World Cup.

Andrew Morton, 69, is heading off to Germany for the showcase event, with one eye on grabbing a sixth championship medal.

And having medalled in each of the last five events, he is confident of another top-three placing as he has now jumped up the age class this time around.

Andrew will be racing in the over 70s category as he will have his birthday before the end of the year, and being bottom of the age group can offer a bit of an advantage.

However, the former world champion knows the Brandenburg race this Tuesday will be as gruelling as ever.

He told the Advertiser: "As of next year, I will have raced for six years. It's good fun.

"Every time I've been to the world championships I've had a medal, so I am hopeful of getting another this time around.

"And I'm going well just now; I'm feeling great. I was out training and done six miles in 50 minutes."

He added: "The temperature over there will be around 28 degrees, with no wind, so that will be fiercely hot. We're used to paddling in 14-15 degrees and in the rain.

"This will be a different ball game, so it will be a challenge."

The ex-biology teacher will be joined by Gilbert Speirs from Muthill and Kenny Fraser from Hawick, who will also be competing at the games.