WORCESTER Rowing Club's juniors are attemptong a sponsored Ergo marathon on Saturday, April 2 to raise money for a new lightweight eight.

The event will be held outside Worcester Guildhall where the jun-iors will take on a rowing marathon of 25 kilometres, and as a team complete 50k in five hours. There will be a parallel event held at the rowing club so all juniors can take part.

The squad has had great success over the last five years and now need a lightweight eight to enable the squad to develop further.

The number of junior members has grown from just four girls in 1999 to an enthusiastic and successful squad of 38 boys and girls.

Worcester's jjuniors last year achieved bronze and silver medals at the National Championships and currently have crews selected for junior GB trials, the national J16 camp and the Junior Inter Regional.

The Pitchcroft club has links with local schools and is currently starting 200 children on the 'Oarsome' scheme at Bishop Perowne High School.

The junior 16 girls have been raising money since last September for the eight with events such as a car wash, bonfire barbecue and most recently a quiz night helping to raise funds.

The Guildhall event will also include an opportunity for people to try their hand at rowing -- there will be an Ergo competition over 500 metres with a prize of six sessions on the water for the lucky winners.

The target is to raise £16,000 and so far Worcester have £2,000.