YOUNG members of Hexham’s Queen Elizbeth Rowing Club have enjoyed a multi-medal winning end to the year.

They excelled at the Northumberland Schools Indoor Rowing Championships, at Haydon Bridge last weekend.

No fewer than 15 QEHS rowers competed in four year groups, from Year 9 to sixth form.

And there was plenty at stake, with the first four finishers in each age group set to represent Northumberland in the Northern Regional Championships, at Durham University, in February 2019.

The QEHS rowers earned two gold, four silver, and four bronze medals, as well as three fourth-place finishes.

Year 9 rowers Christian Ryan, Robert Collen, Zara Holtham and Stephanie Ellison, took part in the four-minute race.

Zak Campbell, of Prudhoe, finished just ahead of Christian, who achieved a personal best time, while Robert was third.

Zara and Stephanie faced a large field headed by Eloise Woods (Ponteland) who won with an impressive 1,035m. The QEHS girls both achieved personal bests to finish second and third respectively.

The Year 10 team had to make two late substitutes because of illness and injury. Lewis Blair, Ryan Walton, Olivia Milburn and Nicole Manning made their indoor competition debuts to represent QEHS.

Lewis was second behind a very strong Seb Sloan (Ponteland), while Ryan was sixth. It was bronze for Olivia, and fourth, along with Northumberland selection, for Nicole.

The Year 11 team of Dan Jones, Andrew Smith, Tasha Szweda and Eve Smith gained vital experience in the six minute races.

Dan scooped gold after battling it out with last year’s champion, Sam Jolly of Prudhoe, to win by 15m. Andrew also gained a Northumberland call-up by finishing fourth.

Tasha achieved a personal best to finish third, while Eve settled for fourth place.

The experienced QEHS sixth form team of Harry Andersen, Tom Archer and Liv Holtham were also victorious. Harry won gold, with Tom taking silver.

Liv came up against more experienced rowers from Ashington and fought a very close battle with Megan Nesbitt who took silver just 0.5sec ahead of Liv.

QEHS Rowing Club’s Pauline Higgins said: “This was a very successful end to 2018 for QEHS rowing with outstanding individual and team performances showing strength in depth from Year 9 to sixth form.”

QEHS has reflected on a successful 2018, which saw Nick Ryan win gold at last summer’s National Championship, in the J18 singles category.

The teenager was named young sportsman of the year at the recent Sport Tynedale Awards for his achievements this year.