THREE west Cumbrian rowers triumphed in a recent world championship.
Sam Ayers, Nick Cowan and Celia Whittam are all members of Lakeland Rowing Club, based on Derwentwater, Keswick. 
The World Rowing Indoor Championships was hosted by Hamburg, Germany, but had to be held virtually, meaning entrants competed in their homes or gyms.
The three all competed in the 500m event on day one. Sam, 51, and Celia, 64, each secured silver medals in their age group. Nick, 62, came in an impressive fourth.

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They all qualified for the WRIC during the winter season. The finals were held last week. 
Just three people from each continent could qualify, allowing a total 15 people in each final from all over the globe, said Sam, a fitness professional from Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth.
"The finals are split according to both age and weight categories," she said.
"Some of the younger age finals were full of current world class athletes who represent their country at Olympic and World level in on-water rowing events.
"It was amazing to be competing against such a quality field from all over the world. 
"The fact that the race was ‘virtual’ actually encourages better competition, ie enabling people to compete from all around the world without having the expense and time commitments of travelling." 
The first final for the trio was Sam’s 500m Lightweight Women’s 50-54. She was placed second to win a silver in 1min 43secs, a personal best by 0.1secs. Current world record holder Paola Mancini (Italy) took gold in 1.38.9. Sam won the silver in the last few moments of the race coming through to beat Francesca de Tiberiis (Italy) by just 0.3secs.
Celia’s 60-64 Women’s 500m race was next and went to form with Australian Sharon Anne Jones smashing her qualifying time and narrowly missing out on breaking the age-group world record in 1.39.9. Behind her was a tight race between 2nd and 6th place with Celia gaining silver in 1.47.3, with a PB by 0.5secs. 
Nick, a retired GP from Eaglesfield, was next in the Men’s 60-64 500m and lined up in a field loaded with quality athletes. The gold medallist Martin Mario Jelani (Denmark) was in superb form and clear of the field in 1.22.8. Nick finished 4th by just 0.1sec in 1.28.8. 
"Although disappointed to just miss out, Nick raced a superb well judged race and progressed through the field throughout. Using this tactic, he beat other athletes who’d set off at too quick a pace," said Sam.
"This is known as ‘fly and die’!"
While their main focus was the 500m finals, Nick and Sam had also qualified for the 2,000m finals on day 2. 
Nick finished 5th in a well contested race. Sam gained a bronze behind world record holder Justine Reston (GB) and the winner of her previous race Paola Mancini (Italy).

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Celia, a professional gardner from Troutbeck, near Penrith, said: "I was hoping to match my result from last year though was aware that there were three rowers who had better qualifying times, however, I managed to get into third position for most of the race then at 100 metres to go I managed to move into second place and hold on to the end.
"It was only when I finished that I was told I had matched last year's place and got a PB."
Sam said: "I was pleased with my performances and can’t be disappointed to be beaten by two world record holders.
"On the second day I was tired from the previous day’s race and had also had an illness earlier in the week from which I hadn’t entirely recovered.
"I’d given everything in the 500m the day before so needed to be a little cautious with the 2000m, so I was very surprised but pleased to gain bronze."