TEENAGER Spencer Armstrong is delighted to have been chosen to represent Great Britain in the Olympic Hopes Regatta which take place in Hungary this weekend.

The 17-year-old, from Market Lavington, will be competing in three disciplines whilst he is there, the K1 100m, K2 200m and the K1 500m.

The news comes after a tricky couple of years for the sprint kayaker who suffered a dislocated shoulder in the Junior Wildwater World Championships last summer.

Because of the injury, Armstrong missed four months of training and he is now itching to get back onto the water.

“I was so happy and excited to hear I’d been selected, but also I was majorly relieved,” he said.

“This is the last year I am eligible for the Olympic Hopes Regatta.

“My injury meant I was out of training for about four months, which coincided with me starting sixth form.

“This allowed me to get into a rhythm with my schoolwork.

“Even so, it has still been difficult trying to find a work-training balance so that both can improve, although I do tend to prioritise the kayaking.”

The teenager is also looking for a sponsor to enable him to compete in competitions and fulfill his dream of becoming an Olympian.

Looking ahead to the event, Armstrong says he will be happy to be there after his injury but will still want to be competitive.

“I am really excited for it and also, more importantly, even more motivated to make the most of every possible training session between now and the event.

“I’ll be happy to be there but my aim is definitely to be competitive. I want to give as good an account of myself and to come away thinking I did the best that I could.

“I want to use this event to propel me into the 2017 season on a high and to push me on more.”

The next time Armstrong will be in action is when he competes later this month in the Flemish Championships in Neerpelt, Belgium.