Youngsters eye place on GB dragon boat racing team

Dragon boat racing is all about teamwork, the head coach says

Paddlers from all over the country have taken to the River Tees hoping to be selected for the Great Britain junior dragon boat team.

Youngsters were put through a series of training drills and exercises on the river in Stockton by coaches seeking to identify new talent.

The GB team has started a new two-year training programme in preparation for the European and World Championships. The teenagers came from Cambridge, Loughborough, Milton Keynes and Sheffield.

GB junior head coach, Paul Freemantle, said it was all about teamwork and everyone on the boat working together. "Everyone must work together, because you can't move one of these big boats on your own.''

He added: ''There's no superstars in our racing, there's no Ronaldos."

Fergus took up the sport with his sister and says the sport relies on team work

Fergus, from Teesside, was one of the youngsters hoping to be selected for the GB team.

He took up the sport with his sister Hettie, after being encouraged by a family friend.

He said: ''It's all about staying together as a team.

"Being in time together and keeping going when you're all tired at the end of a race.''

Christine Cosgrove, the GB team manager, added dragon boat racing was accessible to all.

She said: ''We have people who are under 13 competing in our teams as well as people who are over 80.

"This is a sport for everyone.''