Rowing: Glittering time as bright hopes secure top medals

THE REGION S Rowing Clubs are celebrating major success at the Junior National Rowing Championships at the weekend. Teams from St Neots and St Ives rowing clubs made their way to Strathclyde in Scotland for the three-day event bringing together the best i

THE REGION'S Rowing Clubs are celebrating major success at the Junior National Rowing Championships at the weekend.

Teams from St Neots and St Ives rowing clubs made their way to Strathclyde in Scotland for the three-day event bringing together the best in young rowing talent from across Great Britain.

St Neots' rowers clinched six medals, including three golds while St Ives under-14 pair Adam Poole and James Hadley won a silver medal in the double sculls after being just pipped to gold on the line.

St Neots under-16 rowers Joanna Fitzsimons and Natalie Bream triumphed in the double sculls by a clear three lengths. Sam Howel dominated his under-14 single sculls heat and then the final to clinch a treasured gold medal.

Howel completed a successful day as he later joined forces with Toby Hetherington and two rowers from Bedford's Star club to claim silver in the open junior quads.

Bethany Astell also joined forces with a rower from the Star club to bring home the gold medal in the under-14 doubles event as well as bagging a bronze later in the day in the coxed quad.

Ex-St Neots junior Katy Knowles also claimed a silver medal on the day - this time in the under 23 singles category.

St Neots coach Helen Knowles said: "The total of three golds, two silver and a bronze from just eight events maintains St Neots' unrivalled reputation in the world of junior rowing."

St Ives coach Nigel Drake said: "I'm delighted that two of our young rowers have achieved a medal. We beat teams from bigger towns and cities, with larger squads and newer equipment - really upsetting the odds!