Yesterday pupils from the Forelands Middle School from the Isle of Wight and St Leonards Catholic School from Co Durham travelled to the Redgrave-Pinsent Rowing Lake in Caversham. Named after the Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent who opened it in April 2006, the lake and its boathouse are specifically designed for training use, and provide training, medical, and scientific facilities for the GB rowing squad, and for Oxford University in preparation for the Boat Race.

The trip was the prize from last summer's bonus round of the Schools League - "Row To Beijing" - and the pupils were there to meet and chat to some of the medallists from last year's Olympic Games. Andrew Triggs-Hodge, Peter Reid and Alex Partridge form the Gold medal four, Alan Campbell who was the single sculler, Matt Wells and Stephen Rowbotham who were bronze medallists in the heavyweight double, and Zac Purchase, one half of Great Britain's first ever Olympic champion lightweight double, all made time during their morning training break to talk to their guests who wasted no time in collecting autographs and trying on Olympic medals for size. The men were joined by Kath Grainger our most successful female rower and three time Olympic silver medallist (above with Peter Reid) who was amazed by the pupils enthusiasm.

They were then shown around the facility by GB Rowing's Rowing Resources Manager Maurice Hayes and had lunch in the crew room whilst watching the squad train on the lake.

A prize money can't buy!