YOUNG Alex Repton has followed in his family's footsteps with rowing success.

The 11-year-old from Pinvin, who has joined father Mark and elder brother Duncan in pursuing the sport, took gold and silver medals at the British Indoor Championships in London.

He started training on a rowing machine with his father at home in the summer and progressed through Evesham’s Learn To Row scheme to training twice a week with the junior squad.

In the British boys' 500 metres Repton took silver just 0.6 seconds behind RGS Guildford and then in the two-minute event he turned the tables and put RGS into second place.

He received his gold medal from three-time Olympic champion Pete Reed OBE and set new personal best times for both events.

Coach Ashley Ford said: “In the second event he was able to convert a strong competitive urge into an outstanding performance in the last half-minute, overtaking all his opposition to win gold.”

Repton's father Mark said: “I realised he had potential to do a good time for the BRIC year seven events from his ergo training times and hoped he might get a top-five placing.

"To get gold and silver at his first competition is amazing.”

All-rounder Repton also enjoys mountain biking, surfing, kayaking and football for Inkberrow Eagles.

His next challenge with the support of Evesham's coaches is to turn the indoor performances into boat speed on the water and be as successful as brother Duncan who has won several regatta events since joining the club.

In the meantime he will compete with the rest of the squad at the South East Rowing Championships in February.

The club are keen to involve more younger juniors in years seven and eight and can be contacted at rowing@erc.club.