By DAVID COULTER

Last updated at 10:14, Friday, 30 July 2010

THREE girls from QEHS Rowing Club, in Hexham, have achieved the ultimate goal of representing their country.

Gina Lamb, Steph Charlton and Katrine Hardy, along with Talkin Tarn Rowing Club member Catherine Gammage, were chosen to compete for England in last weekend’s Home Countries International Rowing Regatta in Cork, Ireland.

Their appearance there followed their selection at the British Rowing Championships the previous weekend in Strathclyde Park, Glasgow.

The girls raced in a coxless four in Scotland and, although they did not win the event, they were the highest placed eligible crew so were asked to represent England the following weekend.

After painting their blades in England’s colours, the team were in the first race of the junior girls’ coxless four in Ireland, allowing no time for nerves.

Scotland took an early lead with England, Ireland and Wales all remaining close together over the first 500m.

The QEHS team then pushed on in the middle stages of the 2,000m race and finished second, close on the heels of the Scottish crew who had taken the gold at the national championships a week earlier.

The four girls came off the water satisfied that they had done their best and had obtained three points for the England team.

Pauline Higgins, from QEHS RC, said: “It was an experience to remember and to be proud of, and one that will hopefully inspire other members of the club to emulate.

“They can wear their England kit with great pride as the work these four girls have put in over the previous year deserved success.”

The girls were not the only members of QEHS to demonstrate their talent at the Home Counties with four other crews qualifying for the finals.

The girls’ four teamed up with members from Yarm, Durham and Tyne rowing clubs to finish fourth in the junior girls’ eight event.

Also achieving fourth was the junior boys’ pair of Matthew Mole and Charlie Dickinson.

The U16 girls’ four of Sarah Robinson, Natercia Correria, Laura Scrimshaw, Poppy Brewer and cox Gemma Mills finished a creditable fifth in a strong field to follow up a victory in the Durham Regatta in June.

In their first ever championships, the U14 girls’ crew of Fran Ronan, Lydia Vennart, Nicola Charlton, Robyn Dodwell and Laura Mills, who have only been rowing for a year, were well placed in sixth.

QEHS RC will break for two weeks but training is scheduled to start again on Monday, August 9, at 10am.

Any young person over the age of 13 in the area is welcome to join the club during the summer.

First published at 09:45, Friday, 30 July 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk