WORCESTER Swimming Club’s Matt Richards is on course for the Home Nations Championships.

The Droitwich boy is ranked second in the United Kingdom for his age and achieved the 12th fastest UK time in the 50-metre butterfly for an 11-year-old of 31.31 seconds.

He is currently chasing medals at the Worcester County Championships after achieving qualifying times in all 18 events.

Richards has also made the Midlands Championships in June and next month’s Welsh National Long Course Championships in nine events as his father is from Wales.

The Bishop Perowne College pupil could then qualify for Wales for July’s Home Nations Championships.

This is despite Richards swimming against older children as his birthday falls on December 17.

He started swimming lessons at the age of six at Droitwich Leisure Centre and joined Droitwich Dolphins before moving to Worcester in 2013 and setting 15 county times for the 2014 championships.

With his sights firmly set on progressing in the sport, Richards has to put in a lot of training and juggles swimming with school work.

He said: “I try to do my homework straight away and that leaves more time for swimming, but sometimes I have to take my books to the gala and do the school work in between races.

“I just love swimming, especially butterfly. I want to try to get to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast.”

Bishop Perowne headteacher Julie Farr said: “We applaud the way in which Matt perfectly balances college work and his swimming.

“He is a high achiever in all aspects of his life and a perfect Bishop’s student, thoughtful and keenly motivated.”