Rower inspires Berinsfield pupils to go for gold (From The Oxford Times)

Rower inspires Berinsfield pupils to go for gold

1:00pm Monday 28th January 2013 in News

THRILLED Charlie Riordan looks like he is about to burst with excitement as he takes his turn holding an Olympic medal.

The five-year-old, above left, and his friends at Berinsfield Community Primary School passed round the medals won by Olympic rower Zac Purchase, who visited the school in Wimblestraw Road on Friday. Charlie said: “I thought the medal was heavy and I thought Zac was quite funny.”

Mr Purchase, from Wallingford, who a silver medal in the lightweight double scull at London 2012, spoke to the whole school in their assembly and answered questions from the children.

He is pictured, above right, with, from left, Maya Rogers, 11, Reece Thomson, Lee Lamothe and Hannah Whiting-Shaw, all 10.

Deputy headteacher Helen Smales said: “We thought Zac was inspirational and we thought he showed us what you can achieve through hard work and perseverance.”

Pictures: OX56952 Jon Lewis