EMERGING from the shadows of Sir Steve Redgrave, Katherine Grainger and co, Marlow has a new rowing starlet to watch.

Joanna MacGregor only began sculling in October 2006, but the 15-year-old Sir William Borlase's Grammar School pupil has been on a sharp incline ever since.

She won her first national long-distance trials last November, was invited to attend a camp for the country's most promising athletes on the strength of that and, while there, was singled out as one to watch by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe and Dame Kelly Holmes.

She said: "My parents were into rowing and have been taking me to regattas since I was three, probably before. But I never expected this."

Barely a year after starting in the sport, MacGregor was competing in, and winning, her first national trials.

The GB Rowing selectors duly took notice and, at their recommendation, MacGregor was invited to a four-day National Talent Orientation Camp at Loughborough University two weeks ago.

Set up by the Youth Sports Trust, the camp is intended to start the country's most talented teenagers on a path to international glory.

After this year's event, Dame Kelly Holmes said: "It's been an incredible four days and something which I'm sure will stay with all these youngsters for the rest of their lives.

"By giving these young performers an insight into the life of an elite sports performer, we believe they will be in a much stronger position to achieve their full potential."

In total 75 young Olympic hopefuls were put through their paces, but despite keeping such high-calibre company MacGregor was again outstanding as she picked up the award for Leadership.

She said: "Kelly Holmes was really inspirational. There were so many Olympians there and I'd put them on a pedestal beforehand, but they are really down to earth and took the time to talk to you individually."

Next up for MacGregor are two more GB trials in February and April, before the national U18 summer squads for the World and European Junior Championships are announced.

Giving away three years to most of her rivals for a spot in the GB crew, it might be pushing the boat out to expect MacGregor to be involved, but commitment certainly won't be her shortfall.

At the moment she is getting up at 5am to study for her GCSE's so her afternoons are free for training, and then flopping into bed at 7pm.

She said: "I'd love to make it to the World Championships, but my main goal is the Olympics.

"Sir Steve Redgrave is such an inspiration and it's amazing that he is just around the corner.

"But sometimes I think, oh my goodness, how did he do it for so long?' I've only been rowing for a year but already I'm worrying about peaking too early.

"It just takes up so much of your time and when you spend hours and hours each day on the ergo machine you have to remind yourself why you're doing it sometimes.

"Sometimes I have to take a few days off because I get so tired, but I do enjoy it and keeping thinking about rowing in front of a home crowd in 2012.

"Although that might be too early for me, I'll only be 19 then."

l MARLOW stars Katherine Grainger and Sarah Winckless will be among the favourites to win Olympic gold in Beijing but Grainger, who has silver medals from 2000 and 2004, says the pressure they put on themselves will be even greater.

She said: "It is a huge pressure to feel a country's expectations on your shoulders, but the pressure we put upon ourselves is even greater.

"We have incredible support and are part of a huge network who all work to get us to the start line in the best shape we can be in.

"After that it's up to us, and that's pressure, but that's also the amazing and exciting part."