TWO Kent girls representing Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club won a bronze medal at the National Schools Championship held at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham.

Laura Paine, of Maplesden Noakes School, Maidstone, and Louise Ramsey of The Cornwallis School, Linton, finished third in the final of the women's J14 double sculls 1km race.

The pair got off to a flying start in their heat (the first of 4 heats, six crews in each heat). They opened a lead of four lengths in the very competitive Women’s J14 Double event.

Dictating the pace of the race they maintained their lead to win with a time of 4mins08.6secs, qualifying for the semi-final with the 2nd fastest time overall.

Seeded in lane three in the semi-final, they got away from the start in third place. However, as they started to raise the stroke rate of their boat, Maidstone Challenger (sponsored by Maidstone Borough Council), they moved through the field to hit the front at 500m, opening a lead of two lengths and maintaining this until the last 100m where they eased down to win by a length in a time of 4m17secs, again second fastest time overall.

The conditions up till then had been favourable for rowing but by late afternoon the wind had changed from a tail breeze to a cross wind which favoured lanes 1, 2 & 3. With the girls in lane four (second seeded lane) they knew they were to be at a disadvantage. The final, which was the first one of the championships, began with Laura and Louise leading a tightly packed group away from the start and by 500m there were still five boats in contention, Queen Elizabeth, Warrington, Lady Eleanor Holles, Evesham and Maidstone. They maintained the lead, fending off several challenges from Queen Elizabeth until at 800m, QES passed them leading by a length. As the conditions came into play, Warrington in lane 1, with the protection of the bank, also passed the Maidstone crew to take second place. Although being the second fastest crew throughout the day, weather conditions played a part in Laura and Louise achieving 3rd place. They are now focusing on The Great Britain Championships held in July at The National Watersports Centre.

* Anyone interested in joining Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club should visit the club's website www.maidstone-rowing.org.uk