Rowing: Rosa Atkinson ready for World Junior Championships

Aug 6 2009 Chester Chronicle

ROSA Atkinson is taking on the world this week.

The 16-year-old of Kingsley is part of the Great Britain squad at the World Junior Championships.

The Brive-la-Gaillarde event, which opened yesterday and runs until Saturday, brings together the top young rowers from across the planet.

Atkinson was selected for the bow position in the J18 women’s quad sculls after successfully passing a gruelling series of trials.

These consisted of 2,000m indoor rowing ergo competitions, 2,000m single and quadruple scull racing at the National Watersport Centre in Nottingham and Eton College’s Dorney Lake; 3,000m and 5,000m time trials on the River Witham in Boston; and the 2009 International Junior Regatta in Munich.

Her hard work, under the scrutiny of GB coaches coupled with guidance from her coaches Val Edwards and Matthew Hackett at Runcorn Rowing Club, ensured she eventually won a prized place in the squad.

Just before leaving for a month’s intensive training under the watchful eye of GB junior boss Nick de Cata, Atkinson said: “Up until the final trials, I was very nervous and not really optimistic of my chances for selection.

“And, although I am relieved that the trials are over, my determination and hard work won’t stop until I have finished the Worlds.”

In May, Atkinson won the WJ16 single title in Nottingham to help the North West triumph at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta for the first time.

Last year she struck gold at the British Championships, the National Schools Championships and the British Indoor Championships and, along with fellow Runcorn member and Helsby High School student Alistair Young, was recognised as an athlete with the potential to compete at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

A Runcorn club spokesperson said: “It’s a great opportunity and challenge considering Rosa will be racing crews two years her senior.

“Runcorn Rowing Club wish her well.”