A SCHOOLBOY is to compete in national swimming championships on Sunday, February 26.

Michael Robinson, a year eight pupil at Longfield School, in Darlington, will be competing at the British Schools' Modern Biathlon Championships at the University of East Anglia, in Norwich.

This is the first year that Michael has competed in biathlon competitions and he has qualified for the finals after finishing second in the regional championships at Ampleforth College, in October last year.

Michael is currently ranked seventh in the country for his age group at this event, which includes swimming 50m freestyle and then completing a run of 1,000m.