SIX Monmouth rowers have been picked for Wales in a 19-man (U18) Junior side.

Jack Macfarlane and Evan Roberts were selected from Monmouth School, while Emily Strawbridge and Hannah Lincoln from Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls and Thomas Brice and David Newman from Monmouth Comprehensive School were also selected.

The event gives athletes a first experience of international rowing, whilst facing rowers they usually wouldn’t compete against due to the size of the event.

The event, hosted by England Rowing, will take place at Strathclyde Park in Scotland on 22nd July and is an all-day event.

The Duncan Trophy is currently held by England after winning the Junior Mens’ event at Cardiff Bay last year. The only title they didn’t win last year was the Senior Womens’ event which they finished second in.

Wales will be looking to win the Duncan Trophy for the second time in their history, after they finished first overall in the Junior Mens’ category in 2010, which was hosted by Ireland in Inniscarra.

Monmouth’s association with the competition goes beyond their rowers, as Monmouth hosted the Home International Regatta on 19th July 1966 and 19th July 1969.

The event is based on a points system, a number of categorised races take place with competing rowers fighting for vital points which are added to the teams total points for a specific category.

Olympians Sir Steven Redgrave and Katherine Grainger started their international journey competing in the event, so many view the regatta as a stepping stone for the Great Britain rowing team.