WORCESTER Swimming Club’s Will Gearey completed a hat-trick of national titles by winning the under 14 crown at the British Modern Biathlon Championships at Solihull’s Tudor Grange.

The 13-year-old claimed his first British championship in 2014 and then successfully defended it last year.

Gearey, who attends Evesham’s Prince Henry’s High School, qualified as number one seed after winning the West Midlands title with a strong performance in October.

In the 100-metre freestyle, Gearey was ranked first in the final and fastest heat.

He won in 56.10 seconds for 1,360 points with Harrison Barber from Staffordshire’s Biddulph High School second in 57.98 for 1,324 and Luke Fowle from Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School in Kent third in one minute 0.33 seconds for 1,276.

The run proved to be a challenging affair for Gearey with the cold and crosswind across the track making conditions more difficult.

Gearey knew he just had to maintain the gap to 25 seconds to Fowle to retain his title and, despite finding the going tough, showed grit and determination.

Harley Norman from Whitgift School crossed the line first in 4.42.98 for 1,436 points with Fowle fourth in 5.00.84 for 1,346.

Gearey dug deep for one final sprint down the home straight to cross the line in 5.13.40 for 1,283.

The final leaderboard saw Gearey crowned national champion with 2,643 points, just 21 ahead of Fowle, who claimed silver with 2,622, and Liam Openshaw from Poole Grammar School was third on 2,584.