Astell Pull Off Frence Coup - News - LIVING SPORT

Astell Pull Off Frence Coup

Bethany Astell was a triple gold medalist as St Neots Rowing Club celebrated another stellar weekend.

Six members struck gold at international level, a week after Jacqui Round became the club's first world champion.

Astell represented Great Britain in the women's junior eight and coxless fours at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Vichy, France.

The eight produced a storming performance, demolishing the opposition from the start and eventually crossing the line 13 seconds ahead of runners-up the Netherlands.

The four, coached by Olympic silver medalist Gillian Lindsay, put in some very mature performances against tough opposition from the Spanish and the Dutch.

In Saturday's race, the British crew got off to a flying start and led the field, but had to hold off a strong challenge from their two rivals in the last 500m, while on Sunday GB managed to hold on in a much closer race to win by less than a second to complete Astell’s hat-trick.

At the Home Countries International Regatta, Saints' Edward Porteus represented England in the men's eight and the under-23 coxless fours, winning gold and silver respectively.

In the eight, England fought off repeated attacks from the Irish to win gold by just under two seconds. In the women's junior eights, the England crew had four members of the St Neots squad on board - Polly Hetherington, Philippa Neill, Natalie Bream and Ariella Combe. Hetherington's assured display helped produce a very comfortable win, with the crew 17 seconds ahead of second-placed Ireland at the finish line.

St Neots coach Martyn Rooney said: "For St Neots to have a total of seven internationals in a single year is fantastic, but for them all to win gold medals is outstanding. It is just reward for all the years of hard training they have put in."

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