ROSIE Edwards has caught the eye of the Great Britain under 18s dragon boat racing selectors at the age of 13 and is now set to compete in the Czech Republic this summer.

The Sir Thomas Boteler and former Oakwood Avenue pupil has earned a place on the GB squad after paddling for her scout team Warrington Orientals for the past two years.

She raced on the scout team at the dragon boat championships in Marlow in September when a representative from the British Dragon Boat Association asked her to contact the under 18s coach Matty Richardson with a view to training with the national squad.

Since then, Edwards has trained four times a week with Amathus Dragon Boating Club in Liverpool and has successfully come through trials to represent GB at the World Championships in Prague in August.

She is hoping to earn a place on both the open and mixed teams but knows, to get a medal, she will have to train hard both on the water and in the gym.

Edwards says that she enjoys the challenge of racing and the teamwork that is involved.

She is no stranger to hard work as she is a talented dancer, having performed for Kate Simmons School of Dance for more than 10 years.

Edwards is currently looking for help and advice on how to get funding to pay for her equipment, training and travel expenses.