MONMOUTH Comprehensive Boat Club (MCBC) won gold at a national junior rowing championship last weekend.

The British Rowing Junior Championships, held at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham, saw a record number of entries, with more than 1,500 junior rowers from 131 clubs.

MCBC sent five crews to the event, and for the first ever all five crews reached their respective finals. It was the Open J16 Quad Skulls squad that brought home the gold in the event, beating teams from across the British Isles. The gold-winning squad consisted of Rob Williams, Tom Heath, Rowan Kohler-Hoon and Tom Smith.

Coach Dan Cowton said: “It’s a fantastic achievement, and for the first time all five crews qualified for finals day.

“This is only the second gold we’ve achieved at this championship, the last time being in 2013.

“We’re proud of the squad setting such a standard of achievement for younger athletes.

“We’re one of the few comprehensive Schools in the country with its own rowing club, and over the season the squad as a whole have achieved 40 wins so far.

“This wouldn’t be possible without the excellent support from both the parents and from the school.”

Edward Lloyd Rees, Chairman of the British Rowing Junior Championships said: “It has been a wonderful event with lots of great rowing on show. Over the course of the weekend, I have seen and spoken to lots of happy rowers which is really pleasing to see. The event wouldn’t have been possible without our fantastic volunteers who have given up so much to make this event a success.”