Despite the challenges of training in lockdown, one rowing club still has plenty to be proud about.

Members of Lakeland Rowing Club have been frustrated and disappointed by Covid restrictions, being unable to head out on to the stunning lakes of Cumbria to get their training in.

But with plenty of time spent using rowing machines to train indoors, the pandemic hasn't put a stop to the club's successes, with many members taking part in indoor rowing competitions – which has become a sport in itself.

Eaglesfield friends Nick Cowan and Sam Ayers have trained and rowed together since 2017, and their hard work quickly paid off, with both winning gold at the 2019 Master's Rowing World Championships in Hungary.

The pair had hoped to repeat their achievement in 2020 in Austria, but Covid got in the way, forcing them and other Lakeland members to keep their fitness up by rowing indoors.

And once again, their dedication showed, as Nick and Sam both took home medals in the British and European Indoor Championships in December 2020, followed by the American Continental race in January.

Sam was thrilled to take second place in both, and Nick was also over the moon with both of his third place medals.

But the celebrations didn't end there, as both qualified for the February World Championships, with Sam competing in the Lightweight 50-55 age category – and coming in third with a time of seven minutes, 34.9 seconds – and Nick also winning bronze in the 60-65 age category race – with a personal best time of six minutes, 45.9 seconds.

Celia Whittam, also of Lakeland RC, was also delighted to win a silver medal in the 500m event in the 60-65 age category women’s race.

Sam said: "Having the virtual indoor championships has been a real help in maintaining our training, fitness and motivation.

"We’ve been fortunate in being able to race at all – other sports have been completely curtailed.

"It’s been good fun training via Zoom with other club members, and then competing in my garage against other rowers from all over the world!"

Completing their jam-packed winter racing schedule, Sam and Nick took home yet more medals at the US Indoor Championships on Sunday (March 7), with Sam earning a silver medal and Nick taking bronze.

Nick said: "In normal times, we are so privileged to be able to row on the most beautiful patches of water in the UK, and it has been frustrating to be confined to dry land in the last year.

"However, it is gratifying that the hard training we have done stands us in good stead, even on the world stage.

"It's surreal to know that I was beaten by someone rowing in real time in his garage in Chile, and another in Germany."