THERE was a fantastic family hat-trick of victories for Grace, Max and Euan Nicholls in the Schools Modern Pentathlon Association biathlon championships.

The trio from the Marsh are pupils at Ashford School and members of Ashford Athletic Club.

A field of more than 500 young biathletes descended on K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley for the South East Schools Biathlon qualifier.

The weather was not kind as gusty winds and heavy rin whipped across the exposed athletics track where competitors ran 1000m in age group heats.

Back inside for 50m and 100m swim races according to their age and the points for each discipline were added together, with overall placings and separate awards for best swim and best run.

Out of 90 competitors, Euan Nicholls was thrilled to win gold overall.

Not to be outdone, older brother Maximilian won best run and with a strong swim matched the achievement to scoop first place in his age group.

The pressure was on for older sister Grace, in her first biathlon, to go full throttle and also achieve best run and equal her siblings with another first overall place for the year 11 girls.