It is in a corner of a car park and the water is not much to be boasting about - so how is it that the 'little' canoe club is turning out champions ?

If it is not something magic in the water - or the water itself - which even members admit is not a great course - then why has this Frome club seen such a clutch of incredibly able canoeists?

Frome Nub News happened to be passing as three of the stars of the club were out in the river. With dazzling precision and speed they were navigating the gates with apparent ease, and with this sport that is the aim, to get through those gates in super fast times, without so much as a brush with the metal.

If that happens they incur a time penalty and a sudden and depressing drop in points.

The reason for the incredible calibre of these Frome canoeists is that they work really hard, and then in turn the Club creates a legacy of excellence whereby members inspire, support and motivate each other to do better and better.

Two of them, Finn and Jacob are about as high as you can get in the sport in spite of still being teenagers and with all events cancelled they are keeping up training as best they can. Twelve year old Maddie Hobbs is also part of the leading training squad - which she joined aged just 11 - and is putting in an equally impressive number of hours on the water.

Like so many sports in this coronavirus year, so much is on hold and Jacob who was supported previously by a local sponsor, to get to his elite level can't currently go any higher with all the competitions this year cancelled.

So while he should have been in Prague, competing at three of the most challenging courses in Europe, he was in the River Frome, next to the car park.

The Frome Canoe Club has been back in the water since the middle of June but with very limited numbers - just six - at any one time, so training has become even more difficult.

Vice Chairman Club Richard Carter said modestly : " On the slalom side of the club we are doing very well. We have people competing in Prem right the way down to Division Four which is like a beginner's level."

For Prem think of something like Premier League for football so there are only 50 of these elite athletes in the UK.

" They will be ones fighting for becoming internationals after that and the Olympics, that is their next goal. That's the only place they can go - on and to the top."

So why is the club so successful ?

Richard tells Nub News: " We have two very good coaches in the club and they put a lot of effort into training these lads and lasses. They put training in simple as that, there is no magic, they just put in the hours. It is effort, like all sport. If you don't put the hours in, like these two lads, then you don't get the results."

Jacob Lines (in the all white boat) and Finn Johnson, will typically be coming to the club three maybe four times a week. And they will both be going up to Nottingham next week for a return to that enhanced level of training demanded of them.

As Richard told Nub News the dedication at this kind of level is immense; " To be fair that's not enough. They are being held up by what is happening, usually they would be training six times a week, two sessions a day.

"With these lads and lasses it will be a mind game, so those that can keep training through the summer and winter will need to be in the right mental state so they are ready and if you don't put the effort in you will drop down the rankings. Here today- as you can see - they are still putting the miles in. "

It is clear that they need a high level of fitness, and upper body strength in particular, but they also need mental agility, particularly now.

Jacob's father Phil Lines is especially grateful to his son's previous sponsor and said: " Hatt Health and Movement Clinic really looked after Jacob and they were really good at looking after him when he was injured and helped him get back to his winning ways. "

In an almost unbelievable set of consequences,with a random meet up at a motorway service station, Jacob now has a new sponsor and is awaiting delivery of a brand new boat from a Ferrari-loving business man. The first question from that sponsor, " Are you good?"

While a modest Jacob struggled to find an answer and not to appear arrogant, Frome Nub News can. It is a simple YES he is good, very very good, and so are fellow members of the club.

Finn and Jacob are both in the Southern Regional squad, Jacob is Prem and Finn is pushing to get into Prem. Otto Johnson, Finn's brother is on the British canoeing regional squad, Maddie Hobbs is also on the squad, along with Amy Collins. Alfie Symes is another leading name.

So many budding greats from a corner of a car park in Frome? How come?

Phil Lines says about the club: " Four or five years ago we only had one person in Division One. It is a real testament to how everyone is aiming (to go high) and it gives everyone motivation. They are doing really well and topping out in their age group from little old Frome.

" It used to be that the biggest clubs were in Symonds Yat ( in the Wye Valley) and up in London, and now we find that when we go on training weekends, we are one of the biggest clubs. Nowhere else has facilities like this. We haven't got the water, but we have the facilities - we have been told this is one of the best club's in the country. Really good."

Sadly, if you were inspired to take up the sport, the club cannot at the moment accept drop-ins. It has to strictly limit numbers on the water and even though it is not a contact sport, ensure everyone is signed in.

Richard said: " We have to track everyone and we have to set up groups with strict limits to numbers, to keep everyone safe."

But the club will soon be starting polo on Thursdays so if you want to know more you can contact them via their web site HERE : the Frome Canoe Club website