FORMER Tavistock College student Sam Twine is part of the GB squad of rowers competing at the 2016 European Universities Games in Zagreb, Croatia from July 11 to 16. Sam, aged 22, was selected following his gold medal performance in a single scull for Reading University at the British University Championships in Nottingham in May. He also won a silver medal rowing in a double scull at this event. Sam won the award for most valuable player at the Reading University sports award ceremony earlier this year. This marks the end of a successful rowing year for Sam who has completed his degree in niochemistry while pursuing his rigorous training regime and competing at the top levels of British rowing.

Sam won the gold medal in the under 23 British Rowing Indoor Championships in December 2015 with a two kilometre time of 5 minutes and 59 seconds. He has consistently been invited to U23 GB training camps in Spain, Belgium and, nearer home, in Caversham. This culminated in his competing in the Olympic trials in April this year.

His parents David and Penny Twine told Times: ’Sam is proud of his Tavistock and West Devon roots having first learnt to row at the Tamar and Tavy Gig Club. While at Tavistock College, he applied and was tested and selected to take part in a GB rowing development programme (START) and moved on to learn how to scull (in evenings and weekends) at the Plymouth Amateur Rowing club. He has proved himself to be a talented and tenacious rower competing with peers many of whom will have attended schools with a rowing curriculum.

’Now that he has graduated Sam plans to continue his rowing development in the Thames Valley in pursuit of his ambition to row for GB. He is seeking work that also enables him to commit fully to the demanding training schedule of a top class rower.

’In the meantime we wish him well at the European Student Games in Zagreb.’