National final highlight for hard-working teams

YOUNG swimmers from Elizabeth College and the Grammar School travel all the way to Middlesbrough this weekend for the top school swimming championships in the UK. The junior team from the College and the Grammar intermediate girls are not highly ranked for the English Schools' Swimming Association national finals.

But Brian Allen, master in charge of swimming at Elizabeth College, said it was an achievement for the schools to be ranked in the top 12 to qualify for the event.

Hundreds of schools take part in time trials all over England and the faster ones are invited to the national event.

'It is a credit to all the hard work which constantly goes on, week after week, within clubs and schools to find the island has many teams which are high up in the rankings,' said Mr Allen.

'It will be a very exciting time, when youngsters will again show how Guernsey can compete at the highest level. This is the highlight of their school swimming.'

Ladies' College also had a team qualify for the event but decided not to enter the finals.

The Elizabeth College team is Matthew Allen (captain), Edward Dickinson, James Jurkiewicz and Joshua Lewis.

The Grammar team is Zoe Elliott (captain), Rachel Le Page, Lauren Judge and Anna Le Poidevin.