News

Medals for North East rowers at World University Championships

(15 August 2006)

Rowers from North East universities representing Great Britain have won five medals at the World University Rowing Championships in Trakai in Lithuania.

Gold medals went to Lou Reeve from Durham University in the Women’s Heavyweight Double event and to George Laughton and Henry Pelly from Newcastle University in the Men’s Heavyweight Double event. There was Silver for Durham with Henry Chin and Simon Barr in the Men’s Lightweight Fours. In another spirited performance Emma Steel and Frances Fletcher from Durham University came in fifth in the Women’s Lightweight Doubles event. This is the latest of a series of successes for North East university rowers. Frances took a silver medal at the recent U23 World Championships in Belgium, in a Heavyweight class with Durham team-mate, Louisa and has a Junior World Championship bronze meal. Sophie Hosking of Durham University also won a silver medal at the World Under 23 Championships in the Women’s Lightweight event. Both Emma and Frances have gold from the junior international Coupe de la Jeunesse event. Despite missing out on the medal podium at this latest international event, the future looks bright for Frances and Emma’s rowing careers. They both attended the same school in Chester-le-street but rowed for different north East clubs. As freshwomen rowers at Durham University, Frances and Emma have been rowing together for less than a year and merely getting selected for this team greatly boosts their chances of representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics. Newcastle University Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ella Ritchie said: 'This is a fantastic result for our athletes. To achieve such a high standard in a sport as demanding as rowing takes a huge amount of dedication and commitment. We're extremely proud of their achievements, which reflect well on both universities and the North East.' Dr Peter Warburton, Director of Sport at Durham University, was delighted with the results and said: “Three more medals on the world stage to add to our three at the World Under 23 championships. These are certainly great days for Durham University rowing in particular and the region in general.” The North East was also represented in a coaching capacity at the Championships with Durham University's husband-and-wife coaching team, Wade and Emma Hall-Craggs, joining Angelo Savarino of Newcastle as three of the five GB coaches selected. Wade coached the men's lightweight four, and Emma the lightweight women’s pair.