A SKI team from Simon Langton Girls’ School, Canterbury, has won the English Girls’ Under-16 Championship.

The team of Charlotte Owen, from North Elham, Alice and Emily Limb, of Barham, and Rachael Underwood, of North Elham, had won their regional qualifying race at Chatham and went on to the national finals at Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

There they not only took the cup as the fastest under-16 girls’ team in England, but the following day competed in the Open event for all ages and finished third.

They have now qualified to represent England in the British finals in Edinburgh in November.

All four skiers are members of the English Schools Ski Squad and have trained with the squad in England and Norway during the past 12 months.

Owen is also representing English Schools in the Jubilee Snow Slalom race at Milton Keynes SnoZone in November.

The school also entered an under-14 team in the regional event, Sian Williams, of Lyminge, Caroline Hamilton and Katie Hamilton, of Canterbury, and Marianne Rolph, of Hawkinge, who skied well in their first race together.

A combined under-14 and under-16 team had finished second in the Kent Schools championship earlier in the year.