TORBAY swimmer George Fearnley has been awarded his first international cap after being selected to swim for the English Schools swimming team at the Home Nations International in Scotland next weekend.

Fearnley, 14, is part of the 40-strong England team that takes on the best swimmers from Wales, Ireland and Scotland during the two sessions of competition at Tollcross Park Leisure Centre in Glasgow.

Torquay Boys' Grammar School student Fearnley became English Schools 100m freestyle champion last year to put himself in the driving seat for selection.

He now has a demanding schedule of events to prepare for, that starts with the 100m freestyle leg of the junior boys' medley relay in the first session.

Within the space of 30 minutes, Fearnley will be swimming the junior boys' 100m freestyle, the 200m individual medley and a leg of the 4x100m freestyle relay in the second session.

It's been a whirlwind year for the Maidencombe youngster, who swims for the Exeter City club.

Twelve months ago he didn't even have a national championship qualifying time yet, in the space of a couple of months, he achieved six.

Fearnley emerged on the national scene while competing for Exeter City in the National Age Group championships where, despite being at the lower end of the age group, he qualified for four finals, placing as high as sixth in the 100m butterfly.

Exeter City head coach Jon Randall said: "This is just reward for George who is an intelligent, hard-working, yet unassuming young man.

"He is a fabulous competitor and I see this selection as a chance for George to challenge himself at a higher level."

Fearnley struck gold twice at the latest 2010 Devon County Swimming Championships meeting at Tiverton, winning both the 200m breaststroke and 200m backstroke.

He just missed out on a hat-trick, but had to settle for silver in a closely-fought 100m breaststroke final.

Meanwhile, Exeter clubmates Jess Twose and Connie Fearnley had a ding-dong battle throughout the 200m backstroke championship final, with Newton Abbot's Twose touching first to claim the senior and junior title with a time of 2:20.90.

Connie Fearnley picked up the silver with a time of 2:23.47, and both girls also made the championship final of the 100m IM.

This time it was Connie who finished the higher with a third-place finish in 1:09.11, with Jess fourth in 1:09.62.

Connie added the 16+ age group 100m butterfly title to her achievements during the weekend.