AIB TIGERS swimmer Simon Le Couilliard has been chosen for the senior Great Britain side, writes Neil Bradbury.

Le Couilliard, at only 18 years of age, will compete in his specialist butterfly stroke at the European Championships in Italy in December.

Le Couilliard won bronze when he swam for GB Youth in the European Youth Championships two years ago – but this will be his debut for the senior side, following in the wake of Simon Militis who was Jersey’s last senior GB swimmer five years ago.

This morning after receiving the news his coach Paul du Feu said: ‘It’s a big step for Simon – a big challenge and he’s very excited.

I’m very pleased for him and it will lift the whole Tigers squad.

‘He’s at the young end of men’s senior swimming but the Europeans allow each country three swimmers per event which means they can blood young swimmers.’ Militis went on to swim several Europeans and then the Olympics before winning bronze in the 200m backstroke in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002.

Le Couilliard has just returned from the Hampshire County three-day training camp at Crystal Palace which he attended along with another Tiger, Victoria Rebours.

There was also good news for James Payne and Amira Ahmed who have been selected to represent Hants in the Inter-County Championships in Sheffield in October.

Ahmed has also been reselected for the World Class Potential programme for the forthcoming season.

Meanwhile the Tigers’ new season has started early as swimmers aiming for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next March started their winter programme early and others have joined in to get fit.