The club is currently training a team of 16 rowers for next year’s national championships.

When it comes to rowing at a national and international level, the Bunbury Rowing Club’s athletes are no strangers to success.

This year the 10-strong team brought home a record five gold and five silver medals from the Australian Rowing Championships, topping last year’s four gold and three silver.

Three Bunbury rowers have competed for their country at international level, including 18-year-old Alexa Hagan.

Hagan came fifth this year in the international under 19 A-final in Austria.

For the past three years she has been awarded national sculling champion for her age group.

Head coach Jamie Jones said it was an astounding achievement.

“She’s got what it takes to compete at Olympic level in a couple of years,” said Jamie.

“The skill we’ve got down here is just incredible.”

Also competing on the international stage were Josh Williams and Jay-den Edwards.

In 2006 Edwards came sixth at the world championships.

“She’s got what it takes to compete at Olympic level in a couple of years,” said Jamie.

Both Edwards and Hagan are aiming for Australian selection once again at next year’s world championships and youth Olympics.

“I’m just hoping to do as well as I can at nationals and then get selected for worlds next year,” said Edwards.

Racing in the open age group, the 22-year-old would usually have to compete with Olympic rowers.

“Luckily they usually take a year off after the Olympics,” he said.

z Rowing Fundraiser

TO raise funds to send a team to this year’s Australian Champion-ships, the Bunbury Rowing Club will be holding a fundraiser on Friday November 28 featuring Glen Jakovich.