THERE was something in the number three for a Bolton schoolgirl who was representing GB in an international competition.

Canon Slade School pupil Niamh Robinson was amongst the 40 talented young British swimmers invited to compete at the Energy Standard Cup Four- Nations Meet in Italy as part of the English Programmes Phase 3 Talent Development Team.

The swimmers competed against Italy, Germany and the Energy Standard Club of Moscow.

Proud mum Susan Brown said: "The team celebrated an overall second place win after battling it out against some of the best current European Juniors in the swimming world.

"Niamh competed in three events with her first being the 100m breaststroke.

"She made the turn in first at the 50m point in a time of 33.28 but she went on to finish third and took the bronze medal in a new personal best time of 1.10.49."

Robinson, who appeared at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, carried on her success.

Susan said: "She competed in the 200m Individual Medley and the 50m Breaststroke.

"First up was the 200m Individual Medley, after a very strong butterfly length, Niamh turned first in a time of 29.91.

"She maintained her position after an extremely strong backstroke length then turned in first at the half way point in a time of 1.05.32.

"Niamh touched home in third and the top three all touched within 0.7 of a second of each other.

"It was another bronze medal behind Germany’s Julia Mrozinski and Italy’s Pirovano.

"Her time of 2.18.18 was a new personal best."

In the 50m breaststroke she achieved another third medal of the day in another PB of 32.74 to scoop silver behind team-mate Layla Black who touched just 0.17 ahead of Robinson.

Susan added: "Niamh returned from this meet with three medals, three personal best times, Junior Long Course Records for the IOM in all three races, along with Senior Long Course Records in the 200m IM and 100m Breaststroke."