FOUR talented Ripon Grammar School swimmers will be taking on England’s finest school relay teams after winning a place in the prestigious national championships.

Imogen Vollans, 14, Agatha Scott, Evie Palmer-Jones and Georgi Houseman, who are all 13, will be among the top 30 fastest school teams in the country competing at the London Aquatics Centre’s Olympic pool on November 17.

The dedicated swimmers, who regularly get up between 4 and 5am to train, beat off stiff competition from 16 other schools in their age group in the North-East regional heats in Huddersfield.

They completed their 200-metre relay in an impressive one minute 57 seconds to finish in second place.

Imogen said: “It was a very challenging competition with lots of good teams there and I am so happy we qualified.”

Agatha, who also plays hockey and represents her school in cross-country running, said she was thrilled: “We are amazed to be going to London to compete in the Olympic pool.

“We can’t wait.”