DEAL Rowing Club member Ben Smissen has been selected for Great Britain in the world junior championships in Spain this month.

His call-up was confirmed after the national championships and trials at Nottingham. The 16-year-old former Walmer School pupil, of St Francis Close, will take to the water in the junior 18 coxless fours with Ben Smith, Dave Lambourne and Robin Esjmond-Frey, who are all river rowing specialists.

Smissen's selection is a superb achievement as he is the first coastal rower to be picked for a British world junior championship team.

Smissen said: "I am still really pleased to have made the team."

Smissen was training with the GB squad in Chester earlier this week before moving to a pre-championship training camp at Dorny Lakes in Eton. The world junior championships start on July 27.