A TRIO of waterskiing siblings are getting another chance at sporting glory after being chosen to represent Team GB.

Ben, Tilly and Seb Turp, from Gosfield, are on their way to Spain after being chosen to compete in both the Junior and Under 21 European Water Ski Championships.

The siblings were selected to take part in the 2020 championships - the first time three siblings had made it into the Squad in the same year.

But their championship dreams were cut short by the arrival of the pandemic which cancelled all major competitions in 2020.

Now the trio have a second chance at glory after being reselected for the championships at Botaski in Seseña near Madrid.

The three will compete in the disciplines of slalom, jumping and tricks.

Seb, who is a pupil at the Ramsey Academy in Halstead, was the first on the water in the Under-14 category, which begins on today (Sunday, August 1).

Tilly, who is also studying at the Colchester Institute, will compete in both the Under-17s and the Under-21s, and Ben in the Under-21s. The competition ends on Sunday, August 8.

Tilly said: “It’s so good to be travelling to a major championships together for the first time.

"After being selected for the Squad last year, it’s been a long wait, but we’re up for it and looking forward to skiing our best.”

The Turps are part of a hugely talented family who all live on site at Gosfield Lake near Halstead.

Waterskiing is in their blood with the trio's grandad, Carl Turp, being part of the Team GB senior team and a European bronze medallist.

Dad Vince, who taught his kids to ski as soon as they could walk, was also in the GB team as a junior and cousin Billy Turp won a silver medal in jumping at the European under 17 Championships.

Ben, who was a pupil at Gosfield School, has also already represented his country in international competition.

In 2019 he was in the GB team that won gold at the Under 21s World Water Ski Championships in Canada.

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

Ben, who also trains his siblings, said: "It’s great to have Tilly and Seb travelling with me to an international competition for the first time.

"They’ve been working hard in training and we’re all up for the challenge.

"I guess it’s something special to have three of us from the same family representing our country at the same time. We can’t wait for the competition to start.”

Seb added: “I made the Squad for the first time in 2020 and in competitions in the UK last year I got my best ever scores so I’m really excited to be going to the European Championships for the first time.”

Unusually, the competition will incorporate both the postponed 2020 European Championships and the 2021 Championships.

It means youngsters have the opportunity to compete in an age category they no longer qualify for in 2021.

As a result, while Ben will be in the under 21s and Seb in the under 14s, Tilly will feature in both the Under 21s and Under 17s teams.