TWO youngsters with Worcester links were among three from the county crowned winners at the West Midlands Biathlon Championships.

Will Gearey, Megan Annis and David Annis can now look forward to the national finals at the end of November after claiming titles at Tudor Grange, Solihull.

The modern biathlon comprises a separate timed run and swim with points allocated for each.

Gearey proved too strong in the boys’ under 13s age group, dominating both the 100-metre swim and 1,600m run.

The 12-year-old, who won the national under 12s biathlon title last year, won the 100m freestyle in one minute 0.14 seconds to score 1,340 points.

The time put him top of the United Kingdom rankings for the swim going into the nationals.

Gearey was nearly 200 points ahead of his nearest rival Liam Budd.

In the run, Gearey again led from the gun with a dominant display, crossing the line in 5.19.64 for a huge personal best.

His run, half-a-minute ahead of Budd, gave him 1,277 points and a total of 2,617, securing automatic qualification to the nationals for under 13s.

Megan Annis, 12, who attends Worcester’s Blessed Edward Oldcorne College and swims for Pershore, dominated the girls’ under 13s age group, winning both events.

In her first biathlon, Annis impressed in the 100m freestyle, clocking 1.05.75 to claim first place, nearly six seconds quicker than her nearest rival, for 1,228 points.

She was more than 100 points ahead of Charlotte Tame.

The 1,600m run proved a harder affair for Annis but she paced the race impressively.

Annis tucked in behind Tame for the first three laps before picking off her rival in the last 400m with a superb turn of pace.

She won her first biathlon title in 6.03.06 for a total of 2,388 points and will be one of the top seeds in the national final.

Her younger brother David Annis, nine, who attends Holy Redeemer School in Pershore and swims for the town’s club, also topped the podium at his first biathlon attempt, winning the boys’ under 10s title.

He produced the fastest swim of the day by more than 10 seconds, winning the 50m freestyle with ease in a superb time of 35.26 for 1,294 points.

After the first event, Annis was more than 200 points ahead of second place.

He produced a strong display in the 800m run to finish in fourth position, just four seconds behind the leader with a big personal best of 2.54.62 for 1,231 points.

The youngster claimed the second gold for the Annis family with a total of 2,525 points and again will be one to watch at the national finals.

Despite being only 10, Lauren Annis produced two massive efforts in both the swim and run in the girls’ under 12s event to secure her automatic place at the national finals.

In the 50m swim, she clocked 33.00 to claim second place and scored 1,210 points.

The 800m run against formidable runners saw Annis produce a personal best of 3.04.89 for 928 points.

She was fifth overall on 2,138 points.