A TEENAGE swimmer who has captained Yorkshire is to pass on her skills by becoming a club coach.

Hannah Creelman, 18, from Northallerton, is to take over as coach of Thirsk White Horse Swim Team.

The club was left without a coach last month when they said goodbye to former Olympian Dave Smith, who has returned to his native Australia.

Hannah, who was coached by Mr Smith, must study for a club coach certificate so the club can be affiliated with Swim21, the Amateur Swimming Association's development programme for the 21st Century.

The qualification involves an intensive course, written examinations and six months of continual assessment.

In 2002, Hannah passed the ASA-Level 1 Certificate for Teaching Swimming. A year later she became the youngest person in the country to complete the Level 2 certificate.

She began swimming nine years ago and has risen to compete in national championships and captain Yorkshire in the English Schools Championships. She holds two records for the Scottish Junior National Championships.