Neil deal as Liam and Sophie impress at British Schools Biathle Championships

Siblings Liam and Sophie Neil impressed at the British Schools Biathle Championships in Leweston, Dorset, on Sunday.

The Neils, who are students at Robert Sandilands School, have both proved themselves as amongst the finest young athletes in the sport, which involves a run, a swim and then another run.

First up was Sophie, Year 3, who made an excellent start and found herself in fourth before making a move to the front of the pack at the end of the first run.

She made a small mistake in the transition to the swim, missing her box, which allowed her rivals to close the gap and her nearest challenger to draw level.

Following a very strong swim, Neil emerged from the water in a share of the lead and in the midst of a fierce battle for first place.

Sophie edged ahead in the second run but began to tire and was overtaken about halfway round the closing leg, meaning she had to settle for silver following a fantastic performance.

It was now the turn of Liam who, as a Year 6, was representing Robert Sandilands for the final time before he starts at St Gabriel’s in September.

Having just spent a week away on a residential school trip, expectations were tempered somewhat although Liam looked to have made a bright start, settling into sixth spot.

However he then began to look a little tired, dropping back into eighth before starting the swim, when he battled back to leave the pool in a close contest for fifth.

Showing genuine grit and determination, he battled hard but in the end the week away looked to have told as he dropped back but nevertheless finished a very respectable sixth.

Liam will now prepare to represent Great Britain at the European Laser Run Championships, which involves running and shooting, in just over a fortnight’s time.

Team Kennet’s Penelope Lyth was also competing, representing Fir Tree School in the Year 5 category.

Lyth endured a difficult first leg as she looked to force her way to the front of the pack but was unable to find a way through, finding herself further back than she’d have liked ahead of the transition.

She managed a smooth transition and a solid swim before attacking the final leg, picking up several places to cross the line in a well-earned eighth.