Hollingworth rower Jess in emphatic national victory

Jess Leyden won the Women's Junior 15 Single Sculls

Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club’s Jess Leyden stormed to victory in the National Schools Regatta Women's Junior 15 Single Sculls at The National Watersports Centre in Nottinghamshire on 28 May. After three races, she won the final by a comfortable three seconds, mammoth in rowing terms and coach Ian John believes she can go all the way.

“She’s absolutely unbelievable,” he said of the youngster from Todmorden. “I’ve never met such an amazing talent with such dedication. The best I’ve ever seen. Girls around the country are starting to look up to her. If she grows a little bit she could be a lightweight sculler in the London 2012 Olympics.”

Whilst Jess measures just over 5ft, the average height for a female rower is between 5ft 6 and 5ft 8, and Ian has seen some over 6ft tall, which makes her achievement all the more incredible. Height is a distinct advantage in rowing, yet she is the best in her field, and Ian puts that down to sheer hard work.

“She rows 90km a week with just one day off, lifts heavy weights at the gym and does circuit training. Nobody can touch her. She’s very careful with what she eats, her mum is a chef.”

Even more remarkable is that Jess started rowing just two years ago after seeing the event in the Olympics. Suddenly she might be the one that young British girls aspire to as she will be sent for national trials in September.

In the meantime, she will be concentrating on another national event in Strathclyde, which will take place on the weekend beginning Friday 16 July.

Ian is sure that her glory will not faze her: “She’s doing very well at school and her feet are firmly on the ground, she’s such a nice kid.”