Aughnacloy native to row for Team GB

A farmer’s daughter from Tyrone who only took  up rowing when starting university will this weekend represent Team GB at the European Rowing Championship in Italy.

And having secured a place in the women’s eight team for Varese, Aughnacloy woman Rebecca Edwards is very much in the reckoning to compete at this year’s Olympic Games should they go ahead in Japan.

From first picking up an oar while studying French  and Spanish at Queen’s University, Rebecca’s rise through the rowing ranks has been nothing short of remarkable and in 2018 she set herself apart as one to watch when striking double gold  at the World University Championship in Shanghai.

The following year she was part of a development GB team which finished seventh at World Cup 3 and last March was invited for trials for the 2020 Olympics.

The coronavirus pandemic brought that testing to a shuddering halt but because of their elite status Rebecca and her fellow rowers were able to resume training and trialing in September.

Gaining selection for the European Championship feels like a major breakthrough for the 27-year-old Tyrone woman, who in 2016 moved to England to join Molesey Boat Club to pursue her dream of competing at the highest level.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S ULSTER HERALD