Olympic star set to visit rowing club (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Olympic star set to visit rowing club

6:31pm Friday 29th August 2008 in News By Clive White

Olympic rowing gold medalist Andy Hodge has pledged to say a personal thank you to Bradford rowers who cheered him on in Beijing.

The 27-year-old will visit Bradford Amateur Rowing Club after their passionate backing in China.

Four members of the club, based on the banks of the River Aire near Saltaire, were among the fans cheering Andy, Pete Reed, Tom James and Steve Williams as they powered to victory.

They were waving the club Union flag which has been taken to three other Olympic regattas by club member Stuart Ward, a retired teacher from Bingley.

Mr Ward was joined by Peter Finney, 76, a retired dentist from Hetton, who practiced in Bradford, Robert Edmondson, 71, a retired medic from Harrogate and retired businessman John Holroyd, who lives near York.

The flag was signed by Andy, of Hebden near Skipton, at a party held for GB rowing supporters after the race, and now it is back at the clubhouse where it will fly on Saturday, September 13, at the club’s next competition regatta.

Andy said: “I’d love to go and see them all again. I met four of the members at the party and learned about the club.

“I saw the flag that had been to so many Olympics and was very proud to sign it.

“They gave me so much support the least I can do is repay them for that and give them support.”

Mr Ward, 65, has taken the flag to Olympic rowing competitions at Atlanta, Sidney and Beijing.

He said: “It was a tremendous victory and a great honour to have the crew sign the flag. It will be going with me to London in 2012 and hope to see it signed again.

“Andy is such a tremendous ambassador for the sport. I’m sure he will help give it an even higher profile and get more people interested in taking up rowing.”

Mr Finney said: “I had a little joke with Andy and said I’d try and get fit and go as a pair with him on the river when he comes down.”

Club president Richard Phillips, 47, said: “He is a great figurehead for the sport – our juniors will be so excited.”

The club has a thriving junior section as a result of Project Awesom, a Government funded scheme to get people aged 11 to 18 into the sport.

Links have been established with five schools – Titus Salt, Beckfoot, Bingley, Bell Vue and Challenge College – and about 45 children attended rowing session three times a week.