MARCH rower Simon Walshe is looking set for a successful 2006 after smashing his personal best time at the national indoor rowing championships. Despite never having rowed before September, the 19-year-old first year degree student was picked to represent

MARCH rower Simon Walshe is looking set for a successful 2006 after smashing his personal best time at the national indoor rowing championships.Despite never having rowed before September, the 19-year-old first year degree student was picked to represent Bath University's rowing club at the championships after he became their fastest rower.Within two months of beginning his studies, former Neale-Wade student Walshe had set a time of 6:44.8 for 2km, almost 20 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, and at November's nationals in Birmingham, he improved on his personal best by more than five seconds.Competing in the under-23 heavyweight division and facing some of the country's most talented rowers, Walshe's time of 6:39.6 put him in 92nd place in a field of 187 competitors.He said: "I was very pleased with my performance. Before the championships I had set myself a target to row 6:30 within six months and now I am well on track to do that."Walshe's performances have resulted in his selection for a place in the university's senior team training programme and with the indoor season now at an end, there is much more for Walshe to look forward to.In November, Walshe took to a boat for the first time and is now part of a crew that is on course to win a new £19,000 boat.Walshe said: "We have three division races left this season and if we can win them we will win the new boat."He added: "I have been invited to attend a training camp in Munich with the senior squad but I will probably go to a similar camp in Gloucester in February instead.