Riches returns home with Paralympic bronze

Marlow Rowing Club member Naomi Riches last week claimed a bronze medal at the Beijing Paralympics in the LTA (legs, trunk, arms) coxed four.

Riches, who is registered as blind, and her crew were hoping to take the gold after dominating sport as World Champions between 2004 and 2006.

But after a tricky qualifying round they ended up winning their repecharge event and didn’t quite have the power to top the podium in the final.

The crew finished behind gold medallists Italy and second placed USA but their medal did help team GB finish top of the rowing medals table after gold medals from Helene Raynsford and Tom Aggar in the single scull.

Riches, who only started rowing in 2004,  joined Marlow Rowing Club a year later and has rowed regularly with the women’s squad competing at local regattas.

Marlow Rowing Club’s women’s captain, Karin Phillips, who rowed regularly with the bronze medallist, said: “It has been a privilege to row with Naomi over the past couple of years and we are really proud of what she has achieved.”