PUPILS from an East Lancashire school have proved that if at first you don't succeed then try again after being crowned English Schools skiing champions at the second attempt.

For the under 16s mixed team from Clitheroe Grammar School made up for the heartache of last year's runners-up place to win the English Schools Ski Association Dry Slope Championships in Swadlingcoat.

And the victory for two members of the team was even sweeter after speed king Bill Latham clocked the fastest time in the competition while team captain Daniel Wyatt was third quickest overall.

Daniel's sister Caroline was also a part of the team that narrowly lost to Pates School from Gloucester last year but for Alicia Kirk it was her first year in competitive skiing.

And the fabulous four reversed the results on last year -- but this time Clitheroe won by a bigger margin.

It is the third time the school has produced national champions having done so at under 19s level twice in recent years.

Roy Blacktop from Clitheroe Grammar School was delighted with their performance.

He said: "The team did brilliantly in the North West Schools finals a few weeks ago and followed it up with another super show of skiing in the national finals.

"I was delighted for Bill and Daniel to clock such fast times but it was a real team effort."

The four are all members of Pendle Ski Club and were a part in the squad that won the English Inter-Region race series.

And all four are also members of the English Schools Ski Association squad.

In Swadlingcoat, Bill recorded the fastest time over the 12 gate slalom course with a time of 11.81 seconds the fastest of his two runs.

Daniel improved on his first run of 12.27 to clock a third fastest overall of 11.90.

Alicia was third quickest in the team with a time of 14.64 while Caroline also showed her speed on the slopes with a time of 14.99.

Syliva Wyatt, Daniel and Caroline's mother, said: "They were devastated to miss out last year so it was great to see them win with such a quick time in this year's final."