Epsom’s Alfie Howes is determined to conquer his nerves and attempt to swim at a World Championships for the second time this summer.

The 19-year-old former Glyn School pupil, who came 33rd in the 5km open water event in Rome two years ago, is drinking in the last chance saloon in a bid to book a ticket to Shanghai for July’s showpiece senior event with the second and final trial scheduled for June.

Nerves get the better of him at the first trial, March’s British Championships, as he failed to make the 1500m freestyle final and duck under the qualifying standard.

Howes must go quicker than two-time Olympic medallist David Davies and Daniel Fogg in June to book his trip.

“It makes it hard for me but I am aiming to go faster,” said Howes, who was last week handed £1,000 after being chosen as a Lloyds TSB Local Hero.

Howes received a boost last week after being chosen as a Lloyds TSB Local Hero and given a cash injection of £1,000 and while addressing the size of the task in hand he has vowed to go for it.

“David Davies has got the standard and so has Daniel Fogg I think which makes it hard for me but I think if you go faster that could change and that is what I am aiming for,” said Howes – who travelled to Rome in 2009 for his maiden World Championships, finishing 33rd in the 5km open water event.

“The British Championships weren’t great for me, I get really nervous before I swim and I just froze. I am seeing a sports psychologist at the moment to try and make my nerves a positive.

“It is going to be tough, I went to the worlds in 2009 in the open water, but because I messed up the 1500m at the British Championships I can’t get picked for that this year.

“But I can still get there in the 1500m freestyle. I need to finish in the top two at the second trials and try and get the time.

“It is good to get the support and the recognition and it has given my confidence a boost and I know I am going the right way.”

Howes, now based in Cardiff, has proven potential having claimed 400m freestyle bronze at the European Junior Championships in Helsinki last year despite initially only being selected as a reserve.

And with his junior career still ongoing the former Kingston Royal flyer isn’t just targeting this summer’s senior World Championships but also one last shot at the European junior podium in Belgrade in July.

“I have got the trials for European Junior Open Water Championships coming up, last year I went to the European juniors for the pool and not the open water,” he added.

“I train with David Davies in Cardiff and that is inspiration enough. He is actually my training partner, and he is a good mentor for me, he gets me focussed psychologically.

“And it is my last year as a junior and I hope I can battle my nerves to go there at least.”

* Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, provides support and funding to 344 emerging athletes all the way to London 2012 and beyond. Follow the future stars of TeamGB and ParalympicsGB at: www.lloydstsb.com/localheroes