THEY are already among Scotland's tallest teenagers - but now they're also set to become giants of sport.

Student Christopher Rae, who towers above his pals at 6ft 5ins, and schoolboy Ross Irvine, who measures in at 6ft 9in, are among a group of seven youngsters earmarked for Olympic rowing glory.

Neither had picked up a pair of oars until six weeks ago but they're already being tipped as champions in 2012 when the world's top sports teams descend on London.

Christopher, 18, Ross, 15, right, and five other rowing proteges were picked out by talent scouts in a search to find the tallest, fittest and strongest teenagers in and around Glasgow.

The other aces are Craig Colquhoun, 16, from Knightswood, Claire Baillie, 17 of Eaglesham, Nicole Main, 16, from Garrowhill, Aileen Stirling, 17, from Burnside and Calum Wright, 18, of Newton Mearns.

They are now all on UK Sport's lotteryfunded World Class Start programme, a campaign to maintain the UK's excellent track record in the sport.

Even though only one of them had rowed before and another had only ever been in a pedalo, all have been tipped to go all the way.

Christopher, 18, from Giffnock, recently finished school at St Ninian's and has spent the summer getting to grips with his new sport at Clydeside Rowing Club on the River Clyde.

He said: "I'd like to go to the Olympics if I'm good enough."

Hutchesons' Grammar pupil Ross, from Burnside, is the youngest member.

He said: "I think, with a bit of luck, if I train the way I'm meant to I'll make it."

The system of picking potential rowing powerhouses was rolled out in Scotland for the first time this year.

Ex-champion rower-turned talent coach Ross Malone, from the Amateur Rowing Association, visited 35 schools to run tests to find new recruits.

He said: "London 2012 is the target. They have the potential to go for gold."