Shanklin-Sandown Rowing Club’s Connie Batley Smith will represent Great Britain after producing a commanding victory at the GB U16 trials in Nottingham.
The 15-year-old continued her outstanding season by winning the GB U16 trials at the National Watersports Centre last weekend, earning selection for the Great Britain team to face France on Saturday 11th July.
Connie, who has already helped secure victories at the Junior Inter-Regional Championships and the Junior Sculling Regatta this season, found her rhythm early in the 1,000m time trial despite battling a strong headwind and choppy conditions.
She adapted her stroke length and rate impressively before producing a decisive sprint finish to cross the line almost 3 seconds clear of her nearest rival.
Connie will now represent Great Britain in the WJ16 single sculls at the GB v France match in Gravelines, northern France.
There was further success for Shanklin-Sandown Rowing Club as teammate Martha Eggleton competed in the early GB Beach Sprints trials.
Following ergometer testing and 250m boat sprint time trials, Martha progressed to the A Final, where she produced an impressive performance to finish runner-up.
Garry Walters, club captain, said:
“Connie’s selection to represent Great Britain is phenomenal and so well deserved. Martha shows great potential and her performance in Nottingham will have made a good impression on the Beach Sprints selectors.
“In a weekend which saw 3 of our alumni reach finals day at Henley Royal, with Bass Andre and Louis Sheasby winning, and Carter Horrix a close second, the club is immensely proud of our athletes, past and present.”
