A TRIO of Islanders represented a dominant force as they competed against the best in the country and took podium spots at the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships.

Rowers from Island schools and clubs had the opportunity to row competitively at the Lea Valley Athletics Centre, London, last week — an event that attracted over 2,000 young athletes.

It was a chance to produce not only personal best times and distances, but also show the strength and talent amongst Island oarsmen and women.

Shanklin Rowing Club’s Daisy Faithfull was in great form in defending her title, the Year 13 race, in a best time of 7.25.4.

In her final year competing in the event, the Sandown Bay Academy student added her medal to the gold won last year and the bronze in 2016.

In her first championship, Shanklin-Sandown Rowing Club’s Kayleigh Batchelor put in a superb performance to win gold by a margin of over 20 metres in the Year 7 girls’ event.

Kayleigh, a student at Ryde Academy, maintained a relentless, unmatched pace, in a division of more than 200 competitors.

The boys demonstrated improved form, with Jamie Gamble, also of Sandown Bay Academy, who won bronze after a gruelling 2km, in 6.52.4.

Ryde School Boat Club’s Ollie Coulson, recorded his best time for 2km with 6.47.3 —just outside the bronze medal winning time.