A TEENAGE rower who was badly injured in a hit-and-run incident has made it to the finals of a prestigious sporting event.

Sixteen-year-old Ben Wood, from Ilkley, was out of action for three months after being left with a fractured shoulder and sprained wrist just a week before last year's National Rowing Championships.

But the determined sportsman fought to regain his fitness and went through to this year's finals along with his friend Euan Adam, also 16 and from Ilkley.

Ben's mum, Sarah Wood, said the two boys had shown "true Yorkshire grit" against competitors from all over the country to power through the 1500 metre qualifying time trial and reach the final of the 16 and under pairs at the championships in Nottingham earlier this month.

She added: "Though they finished outside the medals, the pair were delighted to be in the final shake-up of elite rowers.

"Their success was particularly welcome as they were unable to compete last year. Ben was knocked off his bicycle by a hit-and-run driver in Ben Rhydding a week before the Championships. The driver, who pulled out in front of him at the junction near the railway station, sending him over the front of his bonnet, drove off, leaving him alone at the side of the road badly bruised with a fractured shoulder, sprained wrist and mangled bike.

"Luckily, he had his phone and was able to call for assistance, but was out of action rowing-wise all summer."

The boys, who have been rowing for five years, both attend Bradford Grammar and row with the school on the river at Shipley. They get up early most mornings to go to the gym before school, and also give up their weekends and evenings for the sport.

Sarah stressed her pride in their achievement and described her son's battle back to fitness.

She said: "He was out of training completely for three months as his shoulder was the worst place to injure – it is put under a lot of stress when rowing. Because of this, he missed rowing in the Boston (UK) marathon in September and a weeks residential rowing training at Durham.

"He started running initially to try and get his fitness back without stressing his shoulder, and we saw the physio and osteopath for about six months. It affected his fitness and muscle development quite a lot and he had to work very hard to get fit and strong again."

She added: "Ben and Euan have had wins at a number of regattas, including Durham, York, Tees and Bradford City. They also row in the school four and the eight. They hope to build on their hard work next year. Both boys will be going into sixth form and will be combining their studies with lots of gym work and rowing."

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