A former Monmouth Comprehensive pupil has named the school boat club's new quadruple sculling boat.

The boat is named after former national champion cox Bethan Lloyd, who returned to the school last week for the naming ceremony.

The school's senior girls' squad has grown markedly in recent years in numbers and ability, showing how popular a sport rowing has become for girls, but the equipment was unable to meet their needs.

The purchase of this high quality boat will allow the comprehensive school to accommodate and extend their best athletes.

The boat is to be used by the growing and dynamic girls' squad.

Club captain Tasha Bradley said: "It will help to motivate and bring us together. The new boat gives us the confidence to compete with the same quality equipment as other competitors and allows us to race on equal terms with the best clubs in the country.

"Bethan has been a role model and has inspired many of us girls.

"The girls racing and training in the boat over the coming season have been coxed by her, so racing in a boat with her name on it will remind us of her strength, determination and motivation."

The girls are now focused on their primary goal of the season, of racing successfully at Women's Henley next summer in the new boat.