ARRAN Rae, 16, a member of Chelmsford Swimming Club, has been selected to compete in the Age Group European Triathlon Championship in Turkey next June after a fantastic 750m open water swim at the European Sprint Triathlon Championship Qualifier in Rother Valley, Yorkshire.

Arran has been a member of Chelmsford Swimming Club since he was eight, and is part of the newly formed ‘A squad’ training three or four times a week and takes advantage of open water training with members of Chelmsford Masters Section.

Inspired by Olympic triathletes, Arran has taken advantage of years of swimming training to enable him to compete in the European Sprint Triathlon, where he completed a 750m lake swim, 25km open road bike ride and 5km run, doubling his normal triathlon race distance.

With 84 competitors taking part, aged between 15 and 29, Arran had a good swim coming out the water in sixth place which set him up for the rest of the race.

On a difficult undulating bike course Arran dropped back, but picked it up again on the run and finished the race in a time of 1h 21mins. This achievement gained Arran the opportunity to represent Team GB in Turkey next year.

Arran’s mum, Deborah Rae, said: “Arran's strongest part of the Triathlon is the swim.

“He would not be achieving the results without the support of his coach and the swimming club and it is important that he trains in a great competitive squad in order to maintain his swimming advantage.”

Arran is delighted and will be training hard over the coming months to represent GB at the forthcoming event.

Arran trains with Chelmsford Swimming Club, Chelmsford Athletics Club, Discovery Tri (New Hall School) as well as being a member of the Human Performance Unit Triathlon Race Team (Essex University).