HANNAH Cooney, a year 10 pupil at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, has made rapid progress since takign up rowing les than two years ago. After having been inspired by the Olympics, Hannah began rowing at Northwich Rowing Club in November 2012.

As part of her training, she rows up to four times a week in a double with her partner, Amelia Berry, from the Grange School and also in a quad.

After beating off fierce competition at the time trials at Runcorn Rowing Club, Hannah and Amelia have been chosen to represent the north west in a women’s junior 15 double at the National Junior Inter Regional Rowing Event in Nottingham on April 26.