ST WEONARDS’ Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne has set her sights on a place in the Great Britain under-23 squad after a year of huge upheaval for the rising rowing star, writes FRANK SMITH.

The phrase ‘going from a big fish in a small pond to a small fish in a big pond’ is one that immediately springs to mind when assessing Hodgkins-Byrne’s 2015.

Former Hereford Cathedral School pupil Hodgkins-Byrne has swapped Hartpury College for the University of London and their elite training programme.

The 2014 World Junior champion now has to compete with a host of the country’s leading athletes for a place in the university’s squad – something which is easier said than done.

“It has been a transitional year for me and a big change,” Hodgkins-Byrne acknowledged.

“At my school I was part of a small squad and at the university there is a squad of around 80 but it is good because it means I have to improve my standards.

“I am competing against women that are sometimes 24 but in my squad.

"I am training with them and competing against them and it has really helped me and pushed me on.”

Despite the change, Hodgkins-Byrne, whose older sister Mathilda is also a rising star of rowing, enjoyed a successful 2015.

Hartpury College’s girls quad won the National Schools Regatta in May and equalled the course record en route to retaining the Henley Women’s Regatta a month later.

And now Hodgkins-Byrne is training hard over the winter as she looks to secure a place in Great Britain’s under-23 squad.

She added: “If I could make the GB under-23 squad it would be fantastic because I was part of the junior squads so to step up would be a fantastic progression.

“The standard is so high so if I could get in and compete that would be so great.

“I am too young to be involved with the Olympics so that is not something I am working towards.

“Before this year I was always a sculler but I have started to sweep a bit so in terms of next year, being able to compete in the top boats at my university would be fantastic.

"It would be great if I could get into the women’s first eights.

“I have always competed in high-end competitions for GB so it would great to compete more for my university and in the BUCS competitions.”

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