THREE members of the same family from Old Basing have qualified for the Great Britain Biathle team to compete at the European Championships in Portugal this weekend.

Single-mum Cat Coveney (47) and her two sons Cameron Coveney (12) and Charlie Coveney (9) will all make their GB debuts together.

The trio are all members of the Wessex Wyverns based at the Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College, as well as Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletic Club and Basingstoke Bluefins.

They all qualified for the Portugal at a recent event at Millfield School.

Cat led the way finishing second, while her two sons came third in their events. They needed to finish in the top six and also have the qualifying time to take their place at the European Championships.

Cat Coveney said: “I cannot believe at my age I am representing my country and to be doing with my two sons will make it extra special.

"We are all looking forward to the trip and will looking to improve our personal bests.”

In total their will be 260 competitors in Portugal from 18 countries all chasing European Championship medals.

Cat will compete in the Masters category, which starts with a 1,200 metres run, followed by a 100 metres swim and finishes with another 1,200 metres swim.

Youngest son Charlie, a pupil at St Mary’s Junior School, will battle it out in the under10 event which will see a 400m run, 50m swim and 400m run, while Cameron who attends Costello, takes part in the under-15 category which is made up of a 600m run, 100m swim and 600m.