TWO sets of siblings from the district have been selected to represent Great Britain at the forthcoming Biathle European Championships.

Joseph Anderson (14) and his sister Georgia (16), of Darras Hall, finished second and fourth in their respective age categories at a national event in Cheltenham in the sport, which challenges competitors to a 800m run, 100m swim, and another 800m run.

Their brother Jack (16) also earned a sixth placed finish. All three attend Ponteland High School.

Meanwhile Ralph (13) and Tabitha (11) Robson, of Slaley, also excelled at the event. Ralph, a pupil at Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School, finished fast and missed out on a medal by just one second.

Tabitha, of St Joseph’s Middle School, Hexham, was in a large field, and had to negotiate a heat to qualify for her final, in which she finished fifth.

The Robsons are both members of Tynedale Swimming Club, Tynedale Harriers, and the One Life Triathlon Club in Hexham.

Both sets of siblings did enough to earn qualification for the GB team at the prestigious championships, which will take place in Madeira, Portugal, at the end of June.

Racing against other athletes from all over the country, they all put in superb performances at Cheltenham. All five youngsters finished in the top six placings in their respective races.

Joseph competed for Great Britain three times during a highly successful 2018, and he also competed in last year’s event in Madeira, when he earned a silver medal.

The teenager also travelled to Germany, where he qualified from his heat, at U15 level, before finishing 12th overall.

Last Autumn, Joseph produced a new personal best time of 6.45.70 to help Team GB to third place in the Biathle U15 World Championships in Egypt, which earned him a bronze medal.

A series of Biathle competitions are run each year across the country.

In addition, an international Biathle World Tour series of events are run together with European and World Championships with events generally open to all age groups.

For more information visit https://www.pentathlongb.org/events/biathle