Juniors are Local Heroes

One of the most successful years in the history of Durham Amateur Rowing Club’s Juniors section culminated earlier this month with the accolade of Junior Team/Club of the Year at the prestigious Northern Echo Local Heroes Awards.

Now in its 15th year Local Heroes celebrates, recognises and rewards achievements in grassroots sports in the Northern region. As well as discovering the region’s most talented sports people it identifies and rewards those who work behind the scenes and dedicate their lives to grassroots sport, without receiving any recognition. The Junior Team/Club of the Year Award was one of the most keenly contested in the whole of the Local Heroes Awards.

2014 has been one of the most successful in the history of Durham’s Juniors section, which has grown from 15 members to more than 40. Durham has become the most successful junior club in the Northern region, and has also enjoyed considerable success at national level. In total, Durham’s junior rowers won over 70 events at regional or national level this year, training for around 20 hours a week despite school commitments.

Some of the more notable successes included the under-18 boys eight winning gold at the National Junior Championships in July, the under-16 girls eight winning gold at the National Schools Regatta in May and bronze at the Schools Head of the River Race on the Thames, and Aidan Rushforth winning gold by a huge margin in the under-15 category single sculls at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta in Nottingham.

Members of the coaching team attended the awards ceremony in Darlington on December 11th. Receiving the award volunteer coach and Junior Co-ordinator Alan Granlund said

‘This is a team award, a big well done to all the coaches, parents and athletes who have contributed this year.’

More on Local Heroes categories and nominees can be found on http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/localheroesawards/