So we have been keeping a bit of a secret, until it was all properly in place, but now we can proudly announce that Ellie has been invited by British Rowing to join the Performance Talent Programme. This means Ellie and her coaches will receive further support and guidance from the British Rowing Performance Talent team.

Ellie has been on a phenomenal journey over the last few years, she joined Pendeen Pilot Gig Club in May 2016, at the age of 12 and instantly loved rowing. Shirley Pitts of Pendeen Gig Club set up an indoor rowing club at Mount's Bay School and Ellie won the County and Regional gold medals in her age group. 

In March 2017 , Kevin Sellar of Plymouth Amateur Rowing Club invited Ellie to attend the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championship in London with Plymouth Schools Partnership, Ellie won a bronze medal in her Individual age group and Gold in the Team Relay. Ellie won every County and regional event for the next indoor rowing season, and went to NJIRC with Plymouth again in March 2018, here she won a Silver medal in her Individual age group and the Team Relay won Gold, setting a new distance record for the event!.

In July 2018 we had an email from British Rowing, inviting Ellie to represent England South at the National School Games Final 2018 @ Loughborough University in August.

 So off she went, and this time Ellie won Gold in her Individual event and Gold in the Tier 1 relay.

In Dec 2018 Ellie entered the British Rowing Indoor Championships at the Velodrome in London, again she won Gold in her Individual event, and in March 2019 Ellie returned to NJIRC with Plymouth Amateur Rowing Club at The Copper Box, London and won Gold in her Individual event and was in the Gold winning Boat Race Female crew! 

Along the way Ellie has received phenomenal support and encouragement from her family, friends, school, everyone at Pendeen Pilot Gig Club and Plymouth Amateur Rowing Club & the gig rowing community as a whole .

She has also been lucky enough to meet and receive support and advice from Dame Katherine Grainger, Helen Glover, Frances Houghton and Peter Reed, all multiple Olympic GB rowers and medallists. 

It's amazing watching Ellie's journey unfold, we are all very proud of her determination and seemingly never-ending love for exercise! Thank you everyone for all you do to help Ellie pursue her dreams.

Recently Ellie has also been accepted onto the Cornwall Talented Athletes Scheme, which will enable her to follow her training programme from British Rowing year round. The staff at Penzance Leisure Centre have been so welcoming and supportive, and the facilities are amazing!

@BritishRowing @CornwallSportsP @PendeenGig @plymouth_arc @MountsBaySchool #PerformanceTalent #CTAS #rowing #gigrower #goellie #cpga #penzance #daretodream #thisgirlcan

Pendeen Gig club has three fully qualified level two, fixed seat, coaches.

Jan Barton completed the course, and passed with flying colours, in March 2014.

Shirley Pitts our Junior coordinator qualified alongside Stephen Brown during the early part of 2017 to complete the three coaches still involved with our club.

The club's aim of having any fully qualified coaches has now become reality and they can now apply to gain the British Rowing accreditation mark. The club is thrilled to boast that they can now provide three qualified coaches, well done to all of them a brilliant achievement.

The accreditation is an award set down by all governing bodies to show that the club is a safe & secure environment for children to precipitate in.

The club also boasts a number of male & female qualified coxes, first aiders, two welfare officers & a safety officer and may other co-opted members who work together as a team.

For further information please contact our club secretary using the email form  on this page.

Jan with her Batty Crew.

Shirley delighted to be coaching & coxing the juniors.                             Stephen taking the helm during training.

Huge congratulations to all our coaches, keep calm & keep coaching.