Curtis Dickens, from Stratford upon Avon Boat Club's adaptive section, has been selected to represent Great Britain in the Rowing World Cup in Varese in Italy

Curtis Dickens, from Stratford upon Avon Boat Club's adaptive section, has been selected to represent Great Britain in the Rowing World Cup in Varese in Italy this weekend.

He will be the first local pararower to compete for Great Britain since the club's James Roe won gold at London 2012

Curtis is the first from the club's adaptive squad which was formed with just two members in 2015.

Head Adaptive coach Mark Dewdney said: "Curtis' selection is testimony to sheer hard work - by himself and my team.

"There is no doubt he has blossomed with the professional support Great Britain can provide but Stratford laid the foundations.

"Varese will be a small but significant step along the road to what we hope will end at the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028."

The adaptive section has become a nursery for emerging paralympic talent.

Curtis had competed in a number of sports before his catastrophic car accident in 2019.

In May 2023, Stratford's adaptive coaching team were asked by Great Britain’s talent scouts to develop Curtis as a pararower.

He had never been in a boat before that moment but 18 months of many very early mornings and much tough training followed.

By late November 2024, Curtis was considered good enough to be taken on full time by the GB squad and only seven months later he will get his first GB vest.

Dewdney added: "Stratford's adaptive squad's essential mission is to provide enjoyable rowing to those that have an impairment.

"We wish to be able to both support the club rower and develop top performing athletes and all our plans have that in mind.

"With support from the club and elsewhere, Stratford has the opportunity to be a dominant force in our sport but we cannot do it alone."

The schedule for Varese indicates Curtis' heat race will be at 4.10pm UK time today (Friday) and then the final at 10.50am on Sunday.