PARALYMPIC hopeful Scott Jones continued his strong start to his rowing career with a silver medal at the British Rowing Senior Championships.

Having only picked up the sport a short while ago Scott continued his good form with a second place finish behind Paralympic gold and silver medalist in the Open AS Singles at his first senior rowing championships.

Scott, who also finished second behind Aggar at the British Rowing indoor championships back in February, only picked up the sport under a year ago having previously been a junior world record holder in the shotput and discus in the F37 category.

Scott’s rowing coach at Hartpury, Tom Pattichis, said: “Scott has had a great start to his rowing career, especially as he hasn’t been doing it for very long. He’s had some good results and has shown his focus and determination throughout and is definitely proving his potential.”

Jones had been making a name on the Gloucestershire sporting scene from a young age as a talented multi-eventer with Cheltenham and County Harriers before discovery of a benign tumour that had been growing since birth hampered his sporting career.

Following successful surgery to remove the tumour, Jones had a second operation after which a serious allergic reaction to morphine caused his throat to close up and send him into anaphylactic shock. The three strokes which followed left Jones with brain damage and he’s now prone to spasms in his legs and chest, and can no longer walk or bear weight.

Two former Hartpury rowers also tasted success at the championships by picking up gold and silver medals. Mathilda Hogkins-Byrne claimed top spot in the women’s double event before joining Alice Bowyer in a quad which finished in second place.

Away from the championships, Hartpury set a course record as they claimed a clean sweep of the Under-18 boys events at the Evesham Junior Head.

BTEC Sports Coaching students Harry Cox, Charlie Bates, Tom Woodward and Jacob James teamed up to win the J18 quad sculls event, setting the fastest time of the day in any boat and also picking up a course record in the process.

In the J18 double sculls Hartpury rowers claimed a one-two finish as Harry Cox and Tom Woodward pipped Charlie Bates and Alfie Heath by two seconds into first place.

Sam Cater completed the clean sweep for the boys squad by picking up a gold in the J18 single sculls, with Alfie Heath taking bronze.

Tom Pattichis said: “This was the squad’s first event of the year and to come away with a clean sweep in the races we entered is a great achievement. It sets a standard for the year and I hope that if we can continue to push in training that we can have a successful season.”