ROWING: Uxbridge College sports science lecturer and UK indoor rowing champion Richard Blagrove is in the frame to row for Great Britain in the 2006 world championships and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The 23-year-old, who is now rowing for the elite Henley Leander Club, has been given a grant from Sport England.

He said: "This will enable me to step up my training as a member of the Great Britain squad and gives me a better chance of representing my country in the forthcoming world championships and the next Olympics, which is my ultimate goal."

Blagrove, who has a first class degree in sports science and an MSc in exercise physiology from Loughborough, started his sports career as a middle distance runner and was Lincolnshire champion in the 800 and 1500 metres.

He began using indoor rowing machines to keep up his fitness levels and found he had a natural affinity for rowing, becoming national indoor champion and breaking two records in the process.

Gavin Hughes, head of sport at Uxbridge College, said: "Richard deserves to succeed because he is a dedicated athlete and a great team player. He has an outstanding knowledge of fitness and training techniques gained through his outstanding academic achievements.

"We are delighted to have him as part of our team of lecturers, some of whom have had distinguished careers at national, international and Olympic level."