A PENARTH indoor rower has retained his bronze medal in the 50 plus category.

Damian Hammond competed in the Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships on Saturday, November 26.

Hammond managed to secure a second bronze in a row in the 2,000m Olympic distance in a time of six minutes and 39 seconds, this also keeps him in the top few UK rankings.

Hammond originally competed 10 years ago and came fourth in the competition.

Then four years ago, Hammond smashed the quadriceps tendons in both legs in a bad fall leaving him in a wheelchair with the prospect of never walking properly again.

Now back, Hammond is delighted with his achievement following the huge trauma.

As a former national coach for rowing, and the youngest ever recipient of the Welsh Coach of the Year Award, Hammond returned to coaching this year with Cardiff City Rowing Club.

With the coaching workload he was fearful he would not be able to replicate last year’s performance, but being urged on by his athletes he managed to do it again.

Cardiff City RC also managed a huge haul of five golds, three silvers and two bronze. A great achievement for the club.