THE rowing club that produced gold medal winner Kat Copeland has received a £300 donation to cover costs for its junior team.

Tees Rowing Club, based in Stockton-on-Tees, offers rowing coaching to all ages and was allocated funding last year to employ a new coach for the junior team in a bid to encourage more people to take up the sport.

Ben Rowe, junior team coach, said: "We have seen a real improvement in the standard of the junior team over the past year.

"What’s more we have received a fantastic response from people who are keen to join the group. Unfortunately, our current funding for the group runs out at the end of August.

“This donation from the MARS Milk Play Fund will help to cover the coaching costs for the junior team so we can continue to encourage more young people to take up the sport.”

The Fund, runs until October 4 2015 and has two £300 awards to donate each week. There is also a £1,000 monthly award, where the public can vote for their favourite individual, club or team.

The fund is open to individuals, clubs and organisations based in the UK and Republic of Ireland only. Applicants must be aged 18 years or over and only one application will be accepted per person, club or organisation.

Applications to the fund can be made on the MARS Milk website www.marsmilk.com