A keen oarsman is keeping Monmouth firmly in the rowing spotlight after impressing during a GB Rowing Team Junior Potential Camp in Nottingham.
Iwan was among 30 boys from across the country who took part in activities focused on technique, physiology, psychology and other attributes needed to succeed at the top level in rowing.
The Sixth Form student at Monmouth School for Boys performed admirably throughout the camp and finished second – out of the 30-strong field – in a race on the final day. He was only beaten by a member of last year’s GB team who is too old for the coming season’s teams.
Iwan also achieved an impressive 2,000m ergometer test score prior to the camp which has placed him 16th overall in the country for his age group and in the top 10 of the “sweep” rowers.
The 17-year-old will be travelling to Boston in Lincolnshire for the first early identification assessment trials for the Great Britain junior squad on Saturday 17th November.
Iwan was part of the school’s Junior Men’s Coxed VIII and the Junior Men’s Coxed IV which represented Wales and were runners-up in two events at the 2018 Home International Regatta in Ireland.
“I have been rowing for about seven years and I have been lucky enough to represent Wales,” said Iwan, a sports scholar at Monmouth.
“The training camp in Nottingham was very beneficial and it felt like I made some very good gains throughout the five days.
“I have a 5km trial in Boston later this month in a single and hopefully I can do well which would put me in good stead for the rest of the season. I am really looking forward to it.”
Last summer, cox Jack, now Deputy Head Boy, and coach Paul Williams represented GB at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Cork.
Mr John Griffiths, Master in Charge of Rowing at Monmouth School for Boys, said: “The training camp in Nottingham was aimed at some of the top rowers in the country who have the potential to get into this year’s GB teams.
“Finishing runner-up on the final day in a sculling boat was an excellent achievement for Iwan, especially considering most of his training was in a sweep-oared boat. He has attracted great interest from the GB Junior sculling coach.
“As in previous years, this was the first stage in a very long GB selection process that does not complete until next July.
“But it is an excellent start for Iwan and, following on from the school’s good results last season, continues to keep Monmouth very much in people’s minds about rowing schools in the whole of the UK.
“Many thanks to Paul Williams for the excellent preparation that Iwan has received from the overall training programme set for the first squad at the rowing club.”
Iwan added: “Rowing is a big part of Monmouth School for Boys and we are making some major strides. All the boys are working hard and the staff are guiding and improving us.
“With our excellent results on the water last year, including at Henley, it felt like we pushed on and I know we have even bigger and brighter things to come.”
