City club rower to chase glory on world stage

1:15pm Friday 27th July 2007

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WORCESTER Rowing Club prospect Andrew Finlay will represent Great Britain at the World Junior Rowing Championships.

The 17-year-old, who is studying for his A-levels at King's School Worcester, competes in Beijing, China, from August 8 until 11.

Finlay, of Eastham, near Tenbury Wells, will be in the GB8 on the lake which has been constructed for next year's Olympics.

He has been rowing for four years both at school and with Worcester RC.

His selection followed a series of trials throughout the year with the final ones held at the National Watersports Centre, Nottingham, in early July.

Since he was picked, Finlay has been on training camps in Chester and Reading prior to flying out to China with the rest of the British team on Monday.

Worcester's Sarah Cowburn is also in the squad, taking part in the single sculls with the city club's Paul Sterckx coaching.

Amateur Rowing Association' international manager David Tanner said: "This is an important event for us.

"Not only is the World Junior Championships a first step on the competitive ladder for our young rowers but this year we will also be able to put an Olympic venue through it's paces and learn a lot for next year."

Six hundred rowers from 50 nations are expected to participate.