A TALENTED teenage swimmer from Redditch will be testing herself against some of the country’s best after qualifying for the British Championships.

Abby Humphreys, 13, achieved the qualifying time by 0.4 seconds in the 200-metre backstroke event at a regional open meet in Sheffield last month.

She will now go on to swim against the likes of European champion backstroker Elizabeth Simmonds on March 8 at the British Gas Swimming Championships in the Olympic pool at the Aquatic Centre, London.

A member of City of Coventry Swimming Club, the Solihull School pupil is now one of the top six swimmers in the country in her discipline and 13/14 age group.

She first swam competitively at the age of nine in backstroke, butterfly, freestyle and individual medley events in the junior competition squad at Redditch Swimming Club.

Humphreys moved to Coventry in January 2011 for more long-course experience after being spotted by former Commonwealth 200m backstroke champion and Coventry head coach Adam Ruckwood. Rapidly promoted from the youth group, she began training full-time in the junior elite performance squad last April and went on to achieve the national qualifying time in the 200m backstroke at her first attempt.

As a result, she was invited to become a member of the England Talent Development programme.

Humhphreys won gold medals in the 200m backstroke and 400m individual medley, silver in the 400m freestyle and bronze in 200m individual medley at the Nuneaton Winter Open Meet.

Abby's mother Janet Humphreys said: “We are thrilled with Abby’s success.

“We don’t know where her talent has come from.”

“We are very grateful to Solihull School for allowing her to swim instead of taking part in other games.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Abby at a time when she is still able to balance her swimming with her school work.”