Clough sets para-rowing indoor world record

Grace Clough, from Sheffield, already a World Champion in the mixed para-rowing coxed four, added a World record to her collection at the British Rowing Indoor Championships today.

The Nottingham RC rower set an LTA Overall world record of 3:28.6 for 1000m at the event staged in the Olympic Velodrome at Stratford, London.

Paralympic Champion Naomi Riches had set the previous best mark of 3:30.1.

“I didn’t realise I’d done it at first but apparently it is a world record. I’m delighted”, said Clough afterwards.

She added: “It’s the first time I have been to an indoor event and it is very exciting. There is strong competition from the others I train with in the GB squad, so I had to put in a good performance. It’s good to be the one that came out on top”.

Tom Aggar, current World silver medallist and 2008 Paralympic Champion in the arms-shoulders single scull won the men’s title here in the same category.

He clocked 3:58.3 and later said: “The time was a little bit slower than I would have liked but I am going to come back next year and improve it”.

Rachel Morris, former hand-cyclist turned international rower won the equivalent women’s event. “It is really exciting to see so many people doing rowing and the integration of para-rowing into the event is great”.

Over 1300 rowers and gym users entered the event cheered on by a thousand spectators.

For further information contact: The British Rowing Indoor Championships Press Office on 07831 755351 or [email protected]

For results visit: www.britishrowing.org