A SUPERB performance from St Neots Rowing Club at Great Britain junior trials has seen four club members named in the GB Junior Team — a third of the squad. Saints rowers Jo Fitzsimons, 18, Natalie Bream, 17, Bethany Astell, 16, and Polly Hetherington, 16

A SUPERB performance from St Neots Rowing Club at Great Britain junior trials has seen four club members named in the GB Junior Team - a third of the squad.

Saints rowers Jo Fitzsimons, 18, Natalie Bream, 17, Bethany Astell, 16, and Polly Hetherington, 16, did the club proud at Nottingham just a week after triumphing at the women's Henley Regatta.

St Neots and GB coach Martyn Rooney said: "With four members selected at U18 level and Jacqui Round already selected for the U23 World Championships this is the best year in the history of our club."

Top performer at the junior trials was Fitzsimons, who finished as the top strokesider for the second year running and Rooney added: "This year's crew is stronger than last year's and has some good results already from races in Munich and in this country.

"Jo is a natural for the stroke seat as she seems to be able to read the boat speed. I am sure that they have medal potential."

Bream finished third in the time trial with her partner Amelda Gare of Molesey and progressed into the pairs matrix, where she was third on bowside.

Astell and Hetherington opened their account at the trials with a disappointing seventh place in the time-trial in the coxless pairs event against a strong headwind.

In the pairs matrix, Astell finished as the top bowsider and Hetherington was second on strokeside. As they entered the seat racing phase they continued to progress and have now been selected to race in the coxless four and eight at the Coupe de la Jeunesse.

Both girls are currently training in St Neots with the rest of the Coupe rowers under Rooney's stewardship before going away for a pre-race training camp.

Meanwhile, at the Peterborough Junior 14 Regatta, St Neots RC contested in the boys and girls single sculls and the boys double sculls.

In the latter, the Saints crews were reshuffled, which paired Josh Dexter with Huw Jarman and the new partnership worked a treat as the Saints crew grabbed gold by less than half a length ahead of Evesham.