A ROWER from St Ives Rowing Club is celebrating after securing a podium finish at the British National Rowing Championships. Sculler James Hadley claimed second position in the J15 single sculls event, held at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingha

A ROWER from St Ives Rowing Club is celebrating after securing a podium finish at the British National Rowing Championships.

Sculler James Hadley claimed second position in the J15 single sculls event, held at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham at the weekend.

The event saw 25 competitors take to the water on Friday morning to race a 1,750m time trial, reducing the field to 12.

Hadley overcame the difficult conditions to be among the dozen, though by mid-afternoon weather conditions had forced the abandonment of the day's rowing.

The weather delay meant that the fastest six from the time trial were selected to race in the final, again including the St Ives teenager.

An improvement in the weather meant good conditions for the final, with Hadley drawn alongside Peterborough Rowing Club racer James Fox on the course.

The first half of the final remained very tight, with only one second separating the Cambridgeshire scullers at the 500m and 1,000m marks.

In the latter half of the race, the more experienced Fox began to draw clear, eventually clinching the gold medal in a time of seven minutes, 41 seconds for the 2,000m course.

Hadley took a comfortable silver in seven minutes, 52 seconds, ahead of Andrew Homes from Scotland's Castle Semple Rowing Club in third.

Meanwhile, St Ives were represented at the Championships by Christopher Hasler, who raced in the Junior 18 singles event, taking part in a time trial similar to Hadley's.

Hasler managed the difficult conditions well but was unable to qualify for the semi-finals, missing out on the top 12 positions.

INFORMATION: To learn more about St Ives Rowing Club, or to learn how to row, visit the club on the Great Ouse on Sunday mornings, between 10am and noon. Alternatively, visit www.stivesrowingclub.com