Students from Wilmington Grammar School for Boys won the British Under-19s Ski Championship, when they beat allcomers in the United Kingdom in the final held in Derbyshire.

James Bennett, Jack Buchanan and Murray East, all 15, and 17-year-old Alex Pace competed against the top 50 teams to win the prestigious competition.

The fab four train at Bromley Ski Slope and they also went to Mont Tramblant, in Quebec, Canada, on a school ski trip last year.

The school now runs two skiing trips a year because it has become so popular.

Physical Education teacher George Mitchell said: "Success rubs off and now everyone wants to get involved."

The team won the southern qualifier, held in July, then came second in the English Championships in September, before winning the British Championship.

James Bennett is the fastest member of the team coming second out of the 200 competitors in all age groups.

He said: "I was very pleased to bring the British trophy back, as there will always be a strong rivalry between us and Scottish teams."

But success is nothing new to the Wilmington ski-team. In the three previous years the squad has come either first, second or third in the English Schools' Championship and also came fifth and seventh in the British title.

December 11, 2001 18:11