Triumphant cadets bring home gold

The team won first place in the 500m junior boys rowing race at the games, which took place at the Excel Centre in London at the weekend.

Fleetwood Sea Cadets commanding officer Dennis Archibald said: “They worked hard for it and it was tough on the day because all the teams that get to the nationals are the top teams from around the country.

“They were up against the best of the best.

“They are all winners in their own right to even get to the nationals in the first place.”

The team, made up of boys aged 12 to 14-years-old, raced three times against seven different teams before being crowned the winners.

Dennis said: “The second race was like a photo finish. That was a very close one. But the first one they won by a boat’s length.

“We haven’t done anything like this at national level for quite a while, and so to have a young team that have gone out and beat the best is quite a good achievement.

“They are all teen lads and they get on with it and with no complaints.

“When it came down to the third race for who won the gold, they pipped the other two teams at the final point. They were really excited .

“They really pulled it out of the bag.”

The Fleetwood Sea Cadets meet every week and is open to youngsters aged 12 to 18-years-old.

Find out more online at www.sea-cadets.org/fleetwood/