GREAT Britain star Anna Watkins will have Trentham Rowing Club firmly on her side when she goes for gold at this year's Olympics.

The hugely successful club, which was only established in 2004, already has 150 members.

But coach Darren Barton believes the efforts of Beijing 2008 bronze medallist Watkins, who is from Longsdon near Leek, are encouraging even more North Staffordshire youngsters to try the sport.

Watkins, aged 27, is the reigning world champion, having defended her double sculls title with Scotland's Katherine Grainger in August.

And the pair are expected to line-up as favourites in the event in the London Games in August, having beaten allcomers over the past two years.

Barton, who is also a Great Britain junior coach, said: "Rowing has become high profile because the British rowers have done so well.

"We are also very lucky to have a link with Anna, who has been to the club to encourage the youngsters here.

"When we took two of our youngsters, Lee Harrison and Lucy Cruxton, to the Great Britain under-23 trials, Anna was there too and spent a good 20 minutes talking to them both.

"That sort of interest rubs off. It's great that a world champion will make time to do that."

Barton is busy producing stars of the future, such as Trentham quartet Lucy Cruxton, Becky Dell, Tammy Bloor and Laura Cruxton, who won a gold medal for England at the home internationals in Scotland last year.

They were among the youngsters honoured at Trentham's annual awards evening at the North Stafford Hotel.

Barton added: "They had been beaten by the Scots in the National Championships and weren't happy about that, but turned it around in the space of a week to win by 13 seconds.

"They were the only English team to win by such a big margin."

Other Trentham award-winners included Lee Harrison, who lost out in the Great Britain trials through injury, but responded determinedly to improve his times over the season.

He was named as the club's most improved male rower, while the female award went to the gutsy Tamsin Bloor, who helped the Trentham quad to gold even though her training was restricted by a back condition.

Other awards went to Grace Mahony, Sophie Howell and Matt McGowan for their efforts in the water ... but also for unselfish attitudes and hard work to help keep the fast-growing club running smoothly.

Around 100 of the 150 Trentham Rowing Club members are youngsters.

The sport's popularity has been illustrated by an after-school club with St Joseph's College, which already attracts 38 youngsters.

Trentham also run taster sessions during the holidays for youngsters from any school in Year Seven or above.

Inquiries can be made through the Rowing Club website trenthamboatclub.co.uk