Bermuda Rowing Association president Michael Swain was thrilled with the recent success of Bermudian rower Michelle Pearson who backed up her gold medal at the World Junior Championships in France with a silver and bronze at the recent 2010 US Rowing Club National Championships in New Jersey.

Pearson, who also possesses a US passport, outduelled some of the best American rowers to take honours in both the senior and intermediate classes.

The 19-year-old is now studying at Harvard University and has taken up the discipline of single sculling, which is two oars instead of one.

Reaching two finals is an extraordinary result, with sculling at the highest level being the equivalent of lifting 80lbs from your ankles to your chest every two seconds – for eight minutes.

Up against the country's best rowers at the championships, the youngster managed to navigate her way through the 2,000 metre heats and semis, making the final of both events.

"Michelle has adapted really well to the swap from sweep rowing (one oar per athlete) to sculling (two oars to control)," said Swain.

"Sculling is considered to be the higher art of the rowing disciplines.

"A single sculler has to be very disciplined and determined as there is not the crew dynamic to keep driving on with training.

"To have won a silver and a bronze in competition with the best of the USA is quite astounding considering that Shelley is new to this discipline.

"She, however, is not new to amount of determination and skill that is needed.

"By continually pitting herself against a high standard she can only improve and also be recognised as a contender for a seat in the best rowing squads."

The intermediate final was hard fought with a sprint to the line seeing Pearson beaten to the gold medal by just 0.32 of a second.

The senior final saw Pearson go up against the very best of the US scullers.

Showing her strength, endurance, character and true grit, she beat three of the country's best to win a bronze medal.

n The month-long learn to row course for adults and junior camps held at White's Island finished last weekend with men's and ladies scull racing.

On hand for the competition was Mark Wilson from the All American Rowing Camps and Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney who awarded the Minister's Trophies.

Winning the novice ladies double sculls were Sophie Demeyer and Lulu Hedstrom, followed by Heeral Gudka and Barbara O'Shaunessy with Lara Hall and Devin Moore finishing third.

In novice men's double sculls, it was Benjamin Williams and Ryley Erickson who took line honours with Arya Alizadeh and Ben Wright coming in second.

The open mixed double sculls went to Alex Wilbertz and Will Porteous, while Ryley Erickson and Lulu Hedstrom were close on their heels in second.