Ipplepen oarsman Barnaby Stentiford received an enviable gift just in time for Christmas – an invitation to compete at the GB Rowing Final Olympic Trials, to be held on Caversham Lake in March.

These trials, to which only the finest oarsmen and oarswomen in the country have been invited, are a crucial part of the Olympic selection process and the final squad for Rio will be chosen from among its competitors.

Barnaby, 24, who was voted Teignbridge Senior Sportsman of the Year in 2013, is delighted with the honour which is the culmination of a season of solid performances.

Despite illness and injury in the early part of the season, he was part of the Leander Eight which reached the semi-finals of the Ladies’ Plate at Henley Royal Regatta.

In October, at the British Rowing Championships at the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham he rowed in the Leander Eight and Leander Coxless Four, both of which reached the A finals, winning a silver medal in the eight.

Last month, rowing in the Leander Quadruple Scull, he won his category at the London Head of the River Fours race.

Competing at the GB Rowing second assessment trials just before Christmas, Stentiford, in a coxless pair with George Rossiter, achieved seventh place overall – the highest placed boat without any current GB internationals in it.

The following day, joined by George’s brother Matt and fellow Leander oarsman Will Warr, he was placed second overall in the Coxless Fours event, beaten only by the current GB crew.

READ THE FULL STORY IN FRIDAY’S PAPER.

ORDER YOUR DIGITAL EDITION HERE http://bit.ly/1BbGeGc