SELKIRK’S Maddie Arlett has been named as one of 43 athletes who will compete for Great Britain at the first World Rowing Cup event of the season in Belgrade next week.

This will be the 22-year-old’s first time competing in a GB senior team and follows her success at the highly competitive GB Rowing Team Senior and Under 23 Trials at Caversham earlier this month.

Maddie said: "I’m really happy and super excited.

“At the trials I came third in the time trial against all the senior athletes and second in my semi final.

"I slipped down a bit to fifth in the final but the times and the spacing of all the crews were all very close.”

Arlett only took up rowing when she joined the University of Edinburgh but she has made up for any lost time, surprising even herself by just how far she has come after the winter’s training.

She added: "After racing the time trial at Caversham it started to sink in that maybe it could happen.

"And it seemed like I had bridged the gap between myself and the seniors which was one of my main goals going there.

"Competing for the senior team is another very big step up.

"It’s a huge opportunity and it’s slightly daunting but it’s come a lot sooner than I’d expected.

"So I’m going to do my best and hopefully it will go well.”

Arlett, who represented Great Britain at Under 23 level in both 2015 and 2016, will pair up with the University of London's Emily Craig in Belgrade in the Lightweight women’s double scull.

Sir David Tanner, British Rowing Performance Director, said: “The first World Cup of the season is a great place to test the water at the start of the new Olympiad.

"While we know there is still work to do in all areas of the team, I’m excited about the significant new talent that will be on show in Belgrade.

“The event offers us the opportunity to stake our claim at the earliest opportunity in the new Olympic cycle, as well as a chance to review and experiment with the new crews at our disposal."