Josh Carnell, a Year 9 student from Looe Community School, qualified in November last year to represent the South West Region in the finals of the National schools Biathlon Championships after achieving second place in the South West Championships.

The top two representitives from each region – England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – competed at the National Championships at Bath on Sunday.

In a highly competitive event with some of Britain's future stars of athletics and swimming on display, Josh finished in a creditable 13th position.  

The youngster has dedicated much of his life to an intensive training regime of swimming, running and cycling, and has enjoyed success in his first season of Triathlon last year in attaining second place overall as a 12-year-old in the under-14 year age group of the South West Championships.

In 2007, Josh was selected after a rigorous competition at Millfield School to become a member of the South West Academy for triathletes, and receives regular mentoring from some of Britain's triathlon stars and coaches, most notably his personal mentor Harry Wilthsire.

His focus and training is now on the forthcoming triathlon campaign, where he hopes to compete at regional and national level.

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Seven Cornish athletes will be representing the South West in April when they take part in the London Mini-Marathon races after finishing in the top six at trials held near Bath.

The races were held on an 'out and back' flat course starting and finishing at the Bitton Steam Railway Centre between Bath & Bristol to replicate the London terrain.

This is the first time that young athletes from Cornwall have realistically had a chance to compete in the London race, which takes place over the last three miles of the main marathon course, down the Embankment, past the Houses of Parliament, turning in front of Buckingham Palace to finish in The Mall.

 Particularly impressive was the under-13 girls' team which were led home with an outstanding win by Melissa Keveren.

Half of the six in the South West team will feature Cornish athletes, as Yvonne Chart finished third and Zoe Fisher sixth.

Samuel Lane De Courtin made the under-13 boys' team after finishing fifth. Oscar Holdsworth is second reserve with an eighth place. Bethany Alston, a third place finisher, Charles Gunning fourth and Dan Nash fifth, all make the under-18 teams.