Second spot for teen rower Murray in Canadian Championships

The 15-year-old was the only British competitor in a field dominated by Canadians and Americans.

Murray whose main sport is rugby only took up rowing in the second half when Covid-19 put paid to that activity he was encouraged by coach Huw Davies of Kirkcaldy’s Strength-Lab Cross Fit gym to think about indoor rowing when other sporting pursuits were closed down.

Starting in October he started preparations for his first event three weeks later, the Scottish Indoor Championships. Much to his own surprise he finished first in a large field in the Under 16 event.

Murray is ideally built for rowing, standing 6 feet 5 inches and weighing in at 14 and a half stones and this performance encouraged him to enter the Under 17 British Championship at the the start of December.

This was a much tougher task, competing with an international field. This time he finished in second place behind an Australian competitor.

These first two events took place in the Strength-Lab gym but by the time his latest event came around family garage had been equipped with all the apparatus needed for indoor rowing.

Canada is a major rowing country and there were large entries for all events.

Murray finished third in this Canadian championship, behind two older boys, Shane Keagan on 6.15.3 and Owen Bartell on 6.24.3, both of Canada, though his time of 6.28.4 was a personal best.

This has left him second equal in the world for Under 16.

With his other sports still no where near on the horizon, Murray is continuing with indoor rowing for the time being.

Murray said: “The American indoor championship are coming up next month and I hope to be in that.

"I want to thank everyone at Strength-Lab Cross Fit for all the help they have given me.

"Maybe if restrictions are lifted come the summer there is the possibility of outdoor rowing which is something I would like to try.”