Rower Ben closes in on Olympic dream

2:43pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

Ben Brown of Elmbridge Canoe Club moved a step closer to his Olympic dream at the weekend by securing his place once again in the GB Senior mens' Kayak sprint team.

Ben will race at the European Canoe Championships in Milan from May 16-18 where he will be hoping to qualify for Beijing with Johnny Schofield, in the K2 500m.

Ben has been racing with Johnny for the last year and they have had some excellent results so far, including a ninth place at the Senior World Championships in Germany last August and a Bronze Medal at the European U23 Sprint Championships in September.

"I can't wait to race out in Milan - Johnny and I have had an excellent winter's training," said Brown.

"The boat is running really well and we look forward to beating some of the crews who got the better of us last year at the worlds."

Brown, 22, and Schofield, 23, are both athletes that have been supported by Sport England for the last two years.

They are living in Marlow by the Thames and are in full time training at Bisham Abbey and Eton lake, where the 2012 Olympic Canoeing will take place. Both are former Junior World Champions.

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