Two Suffolk rowers will go for glory with Great Britain after being selected to race at the European Championships in Serbia.
Newcomer Phil Congden has been included in a nine-strong squad for the men’s eights event, while Lucinda Gooderham will hope to be in medal contention in the women’s quad at the event, which begins on Friday.
The duo are from Bury St Edmunds, with Gooderham having attended St Felix School in Southwold.
The European Championships will be an important event for the pair, with decisions over selection for the World Cups in June and July and the World Championships in August yet to be made.
There is also the small matter of the Olympic Games, in Rio, in 2016.
“I think everything you do is geared towards Rio and everything is a stepping stone,” said Gooderham, who will be joined by Tina Stiller, Beth Rodford and Vicki Meyer-Laker.
“It’s always in the back of your mind, aiming for medals at the Olympics, and every performance counts.
“I am excited for the future, I have made really big progress, and I am where I want to be.
“As a team we are much stronger unit than we were last year and we will be looking for medals.”
Meanwhile, Congden will hope he isn’t the odd one out when the final eight are named for the team to take to the water in Belgrade.
He said: “It’s a good mix of older guys with more experience and newer guys who’ve still got a lot of excitement and a lot of shine on the new season.
“We’ve got guys that have been in fast eights, so we’ve got a real stock of experience to draw from and then guys who have a lot of passion and fire because it’s their chance to prove themselves.”
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