Sixteen-year-old Poppy Mayall travelled to the Olympic Velodrome on Saturday 9th December to take part in the British Rowing Indoor Championships.
Competing in the Year 11 Girls’ 6 minute race, she won her heat and picked up the Silver medal in the process.
After a four hour recovery period, she was back in the seat, taking part in the 500 metre sprint. This time she went one better and won Gold, smashing her PB from 142 split to 138.4.
This is a phenomenal achievement for any athlete but even more phenomenal for Poppy who is extremely new to the sport. She only took up the sport in September 2017 joining Deben Rowing Club in Woodbridge.
Poppy is a multi-talented athlete. She was part of the GB Water Polo U18 women’s team having won her first England cap during the Summer of 2017. She made England Rugby U15’s South East and London Development Squads for 2017 and has also recently finished Eastern Counties Rugby matches for 2017 and has been selected for the Centre of Excellence U18’s England Rugby Development starting in 2018.
Poppy is extremely dedicated to her sports and trains every day. She rows twice a week with Deben Rowing Club, plays rugby twice a week and every other day she can be found in the Fram gym or swimming pool.
Director of Sport, Nick Gandy said: ‘Poppy is a quite exceptional young sportswoman who has achieved national success and recognition in a wide range of sports, such as water polo, rugby and athletics. Her commitment, resilience and enthusiasm make her a powerful role model for our younger pupils. To achieve what she has, having only taken up the sport of rowing a few months ago, is remarkable but not surprising given her aptitude! We are exceptionally proud of her achievements.’
