UPTON Rowing Club have been helping a Zimbabwean sculler prepare for the upcoming World Rowing Championships in Florida.

Steve Cox, who serves in the British Army, is set to make his first appearance at the senior competition after being selected to compete for his native country in the single sculls division.

The 25-year-old’s army unit is based in Cardiff which qualified him to race for Wales in the recent Home International Regatta where he finished second.

In Florida, there are likely to be athletes representing at least 40 countries from all over the world contesting in his event. Although Zimbabwe is not one of the leading nations in world rowing Cox aims to get as high in the ranks as possible.

Cox’s coach is Upton member Julian Scrivener, who rowed for Great Britain in the World Championships on a number of occasions in the 1980s and competed with Olympian Steve Redgrave.

Scrivener still races regularly for Upton and remains one of the best scullers in the country in his age group.

But he has turned to coaching to give Cox the benefit of all his knowledge and experience. He will be accompanying Cox to Florida for the event, which runs from September 24 until October 1.