ROWING starlet Kieren Emery hopes to be full of Far Eastern promise next month when he takes to the water for his country.
The 17-year-old from Denton Burn, Newcastle, has been called into the Great Britain squad for the World Junior Rowing Championships in Beijing, China. Kieren, a member of the Newburn-based Tyne Rowing Club, was selected after a series of time trial events, the last of which was at Nottingham earlier this month.
The time for these trials, which began last October, plus scores from races around the country, determined the make-up of the squad.
It is the first time the youngster, who started rowing aged 10, has been called up at this level, although he has rowed for Great Britain's under-16 team.
“It is a dream to represent my country and I cannot wait to go out there and compete.”
Proud dad Neil said: “Kieran's call-up is reward for a lot of hard work and dedication.
“As well as training six days a week he has had races across the UK and Europe, as well as having to study for his BTEC qualification at Walbottle Campus College.”
In a further boost, Kieren will be starting a two-year rowing apprenticeship at Durham University in September.
Neil said: “Kieren has already spent a lot of time with the rowing team and coaches at Durham.
“This apprenticeship will help him develop his skills.”
The youngster's successes to date include a gold medal at the Great Britain-France meeting last year and National Schools Championship golds in each of the last two years.
