Bexhill rower heading for Henley

Bexhill Rowing Club talent Mark Mitchell (right) with Sir Steve Redgrave at last month's Marlow Regatta

Mark Mitchell has qualified for the diamond challenge sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta and is due to race against Roel Braas, from Holland, today (Thursday).

Mitchell - the first coastal sculler to qualify for the diamond challenge sculls representing his home club - said: “I’ll be giving away five inches in height, 30kg in weight and 10 years of age. Oh and he won the B final at the World Cup the other week, but he ‘only’ came fifth at the Olympic Games in London.”

Mitchell was in a strong qualifying head which favoured a heavyweight sculler, but the lightweight rower had a fantastic row to book his place at Henley.

Bexhill Rowing Club captain Phil McCorry said: “Mark joins the best in the world with multiple Olympic medallists in the field. It really is a momentous achievement and we wish him luck on Thursday.”

A very successful performer on the Coast Amateur Rowing Association (CARA) scene for a number of years now, Mitchell clinched the CARA clubs championship in the senior sculls by winning at the Eastbourne Regatta on Sunday.

The Henley Royal Regatta attracts thousands of visitors over a five-day period and spectators are treated to more than 200 races of an international standard, including Olympians and crews new to the event.