Team GB rowers inspire Hartlepool youngsters

Jo and Beth with the Clavering School Games organising crew, Jessie, Macy, Laney, Oscar, Billy, Scott and Dylan.

Two top female rowers inspired schoolchildren to once again go the extra mile for charity.

Hundreds of sporty Clavering Primary School children were joined by rowing superstars Beth Bryan and Jo Wratten to launch their efforts for this year’s Sport Relief.

Beth was chosen to represent Team GB at the Youth Olympics in Sydney in 2012 where she won a gold medal.

Children from Mrs Carter's Year 1 class with Jo and Beth.

She and Jo have also represented Team GB in the Under-23 World Rowing Championships where they both won silver medals.

Sport Relief organisers arranged for Beth and Jo, who are based at Tees Rowing Club in Stockton, to visit Clavering Primary School as a reward for raising thousands of pounds for the cause in previous years.

Deputy Headteacher, Neil McAvoy, who himself has seen the work of Comic Relief and Sport Relief while leading humanitarian aid projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, said: “Our School Games Organising Crew did a great job leading our two assemblies and everyone was very excited to meet Beth and Jo.

“We’re all very keen to raise thousands of pounds again for Sport Relief and the children were clearly inspired by Beth and Jo’s stories.

“What they have already achieved in their rowing careers shows what is possible for any Teesside child with the right level of determination, drive and discipline.”

The school’s Games Organising Crew, a team of Year 6 children, staged two assemblies reminding all pupils of the importance of Sport Relief, held a Q&A session with the Beth and Jo and explained what Clavering will be doing this year to raise money.

Every pupil and staff member is due to take part in a Sport Relief Mile in school in March and youngsters will also sell official Sport Relief wristbands and soft balls.

One excited pupil said: “It’s not every day that you get to meet two world-class sports stars.”

Beth said: “If you do the Sport Relief Mile, however you choose to do it, you’re giving, you’re raising money; plus you also get something back in that it’s an achievement and you can really take something from that.”

The event was organised by Laura Balcombe from the Sport Relief team in London and was recorded by Hannah McMahon from Radio Tees.

To find your nearest Sport Relief event, visit http://www.sportrelief.com/events.