Darrick Wood School boys' ski team raced to a superb third place and bronze medals in the English Schools' Open Championships held at Swad-lincote in Derbyshire.

The team, which comprised Bob Capozzi, aged 16, Aaron Colyer, who is 15, and 14-year-olds Chris Hodges and Greg Pearce were competing against the very best school ski teams of all ages up to 19 from around the country.

The dry-slope champion-ships were very closely contested, with just a few hundredths of a second between each of the first three teams after two timed runs over a demanding slalom course.

Darrick Wood's success qualifies the team to represent England in the British Schools' Championships to be held next month at Llandudno in north Wales.