TWINS from Highbridge are preparing to take on some of the country’s top swimmers after qualifying to compete in the 2015 ASA Amateur Swimming Association National Summer Championships.

Holly and Megan Richards, 14, will swim at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Sports Centre from August 4-9 following a tough qualification period. The girls, who both swim up to 13 times per week at Weston Swimming Club – starting as early as 5am – will both swim in the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays. while Megan will also compete in the 100m butterfly.

The girls' mother, Denise, says she is very proud of their achievements and is looking forward to seeing them compete on the national stage.

She said: “I’m really proud of Megan and Holly – we didn’t think they would qualify thius year, we always thought it would be next year, so we weren’t really prepared.

“The sibling rivalry is fine and they get on really well. It’s a good thing, because they coach each other and help each other out all of the time.

“They are both really looking forward to going to Sheffield in a few weeks time.”

Swimmers from five age groups, as well as multi-classification para-swimming races, will be battling it out to be crowned ASA champions.

The championships will form part of a new swimming structure in Great Britain whereby the top ranked swimmers in each event (18 for 800m/1500m Free, 24 for all other individual events) will be invited to compete at the British Swimming Summer Championships.