A PAIR of students from Woodside School Sports College in Belvedere tasted success by winning their classes at the national indoor rowing championships.

The championships, which were held at Battersea Park, brought together the best rowers from around the country.

Marc Lucas and Lara Smieja were part of a 20-strong team selected to represent the Bexley (Woodside) School Sports Partnership through their participation in the Bexley schools indoor rowing championships.

The duo were invited to take part in the special invitation timed race and both demonstrated great technique and strength to travel the furthest distance in three minutes to win their races and finish first in their respective categories.

This is the second year in a row that Lucas, who also competes for Bexley as part of the main team, has won this title.

Schools indoor rowing has gone from strength to strength in Bexley thanks to support from the school sports partnerships and London youth rowing.

Partnership development manager Jody Specht said: “All of the rowers performed brilliantly.

“Not only did we get two gold medals in the adaptive category, we also had great success with Townley Grammar School’s Victoria Blinco, and Bronwynn Redgrave of St Catherine’s School, who finished sixth and 11th respectively.

“With Year 11 pupil Tom Winzar from Erith School also identified as a potential star of the future, things are looking hopeful for further good results at the London Youth Games in July.”