A TALENTED sporting trio are following in their family’s footsteps after all being picked to represent the nation on the water.

Ben, Tilly and Seb Turp, from Gosfield, have become the first trio of siblings to make it into the Great Britain National Water Ski Squad in the same year.

Ben, 19, Tilly, 17, and Seb, 12, have water ski-ing in their blood and now the trio are set to make their mark after being selected for the squad in their age categories.

Despite Covid-19 postponing many of 2020’s events, the trio could still take part in national competitions later this year.

The postponed events, which include the European Youth and Under-21s Championships and World Junior and Under-21s Championships, are now set to take place in 2021, with the 2020 squad still taking part.

Grandad Carl Turp, 77, was in the Great Britain senior team and won a European bronze medal.

The Turps live and ski at Gosfield Lake after Carl moved there 37 years ago.

The siblings’ dad Vince, 50, was also in the Great Britain team and taught his children to ski as soon as they could walk.

He is also now one of the world’s top boat drivers for international water ski competitions.

The sibling’s cousin Billy Turp, 26, won a silver medal in jumping at the European Under-17 championships.

The teenage Turps compete in the three high-adrenalin disciplines of water ski-ing – slalom, jumping and tricks.

Ben has already represented his country in international competition. In 2019 he was in the Great Britain team which won gold in the Under-21 World Water Ski Championships in Canada.

Three years earlier, he also won his first World Championships medal with Team GB – this time bronze in the under-17s.

Ben could have seen more glory at the Under-21s European Championships in Spain last month but the event was cancelled.

Tilly and Seb had their first taste of action for the summer earlier this month.

They were part of a Great Britain squad coaching camp in Lincolnshire where former Hedingham School pupil Tilly won her slalom contest and Seb smashed his slalom personal best.

Tilly previously won bronze at the 2019 British National Water Ski Championships while Seb, who goes to Halstead’s Ramsey Academy, was also selected for the Great Britain Water Ski squad for the first time this year.

Former Gosfield School pupil Ben now serves as the main coach for his sister and brother.

Despite her talent on the water, Tilly also studies health and social care at Colchester Institute and hopes to become a speech and language therapist.

Dad Vince said: “Emma and I are so proud of Ben, Tilly and Seb.

“They have worked really hard for this and for all three of them to get selected for the GB Squad at the same time, which is a first, is a great achievement.

“It’s a shame the pandemic has robbed them of the potential to compete internationally this year but they’ll keep training and are looking forward to a better 2021.”