David Bartlett is determined to make the most of his big break.

Bartlett, 18, is one of only four juniors named in Britain's European Senior Short Course Championship team in Germany in December.

He is joined by youngsters David Davies (Cardiff), 17, Amy Konowalik (Nottingham) 16, and Keri-anne Payne (Rochdale), 15.

The Littlehampton club swimmer secured his selection for the 200m breaststroke at the British Championships.

His time of 2mins 15.55sec was just two-hundreths inside the cut off point set by national performance director Bill Sweetenham.

David's father John said: "Bill Sweetenham has said all along that if a junior can swim in the time he sets then he can knock a senior out of the team. That is what has happened to David. I am proud of him and he is proud of himself. It is fabulous. He can't believe it.

"He only just pulled it out at the last attempt and had to break his personal best by 2.59sec to do it.

"It has enabled him to take the big step and when he goes to Germany he intends to take full advantage.

"He had a fallow year in 2001 but this year has gone fantastically well for him. He won three gold medals in the youth events at the British Short Course.

"Hopefully he can finish off the year by establishing himself in the senior squad at a time when British swimming is pretty strong.

"The added bonus is that he has got into the team in a stroke that has traditionally been this country's strongest, going back to Duncan Goodhew and Adrian Moorhouse up to this year's Commonwealth Games when Adam Whitehead, Darren Mew and James Gibson made it a 1-2-3 in the 100m in Manchester."

Bartlett is preparing for his date in Germany at Bath University with Mew under the guidance of British coach Ian Turner who guided Paul Palmer to an Olympic silver.

Dad John added: "David is gettingthe best coaching and facilities. He went to Bath because they've got a 50m pool.

"He wants to go on to long course and the Olympics, but short course should be good preparation for him."

Bartlett will also team up with Commonwealth Games gold medallists Sarah Price and Alison Shepherd in Germany.

It is clear the former Durrington High and Worthing Sixth Form College pupil is determined to make his first taste of the big time as sweet at possible.

Bartlett and his team-mates face a tough preparation. Sweetenham has placed new challenges in their way. Before any major competition swimmers usually reduce their workload in the water and the gym, to ensure they arrive fresh and best placed to swim fast when it counts.

But Bartlett and co must continue with heavy training and take the competition in their stride.

Sweetenham said: "I'm trying to educate the swimmers and coaches to train through competitions instead of resting up.

"They won't be going to Germany to swim fast times, they'll be going there to swim hard and compete hard. It will still be a strong team with a lot of quality swimmers and they will show just how tough they are."