MORE than 40 teenage rowers between 14 and 16 gathered at Dart Totnes Rowing Club to take part in Trials on Saturday, all hoping to be selected to represent the Western Region at British Rowing's Junior Inter Regional Rowing Competition.

An early start saw the youngsters from Wimbleball RC making their way through a covering of snow to get to Totnes.

In the pre-race briefing organiser Captain Rob Harris told them all to: “Give everything. Don't hold anything back!”. Wimbleball RC’s three competitors were up against crews from bigger clubs – bigger in terms of numbers of competitor's fielded and in terms or facilities.

First on the water were 14- year-olds Becky Ansell and Charlotte Enright competing in the J14x2, who were against familiar rival crews from Paignton.

The trial is run as a Head Race – a time trial – over 1500m, and it became very clear to spectators lining the banks, that all competitors had taken the Captain’s words to heart.

Overtaking one crew and pulling close to another, it was obvious that the Wimbleball Crew had put in a superb performance to win by several seconds.

Later in the day Tom Enright was able to compete in the the J16x2 with Castle Dore rower Will James. In an unfamiliar boat and rowing together for the first time, the pair put in a great performance.

Two days of anxious waiting followed before the news that all three Wimbleball rowers had been selected to represent their region, was confirmed.

This means that they will compete in April at the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham, against Juniors from eleven other regions.

Becky Ansell (West Somerset College) started rowing in the September following the the 2012 Olympics; Charlotte and Tom Enright (Kings Taunton and West Somerset College respectively) began rowing just over a year ago, which makes the achievement even more impressive.

The club would liked to be able to enter crews for other categories, such as quads, but cannot do so until more youngsters join.

If you are interested in having a go visit the club website or face book page or contact Steve and Andrea Worley: s.a.worley@btinternet.com or ring 07775897084