A TEENAGE swimmer from the region has won a place in the national Young Sportsperson of the Year Awards final. Angie Winstanley-Smith, 16, was nominated for the award for her success at swimming and water polo by her former school, Woodham Community Technology College in Newton Aycliffe, writes ALISON LEWIS.

She won the North-East regional young sportsperson competition to secure a place in the national final, to be held next Thursday in London.

The youngster is studying for A-Levels at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington, as well as fitting in 16 hours of swimming training with the Sedgefield 75s squad at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre.

Angie only started swimming seriously when she was 13, but this has not stopped her scooping a string of titles, trophies and medals.

She has held the national 100m backstroke title, 100m backstroke English Schools title and represented Britain at under 17 and under 20 levels, as well as gaining a host of regional titles.

However, she has had a difficult season with a bad shoulder injury, which led her and coach Joan Moore, to decide she should quit water polo to concentrate on swimming.

"I feel my swimming is the main thing, my goal is to make it to the Olympics. I know I won't make it to the Commonwealth Games next year, because of my injuries, but I still want to make it through to the senior Great Britain team," she said.