SOPHIE Gillbanks and Georgia Shirley sent out a message to their rivals on Saturday when Northwich Rowing Club crews reached the British Junior Championship semi-finals.

They were fastest during a time trial for the under 16s girls’ double scull, reaching the finish almost six seconds before their closest rivals from Inverness.

The duo must finish in the top three during tomorrow’s semi-final to keep alive their hopes of a medal at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham.

Three other Northwich crews made it safely through too.

Tom Swithenbank and Will Miles progressed directly to the final of the under 16s boys’ pairs after ranking third in a time trial behind Walton and Wallingford.

Meanwhile a junior men’s quad of Josh Burke, Rhys Coffey, George Crouchley and Kevin Dudley, which competed at Henley Royal Regatta earlier this month, will contest a semi-final on Sunday after ranking fourth in a time trial.

They stopped the clock in 5.17.2.

Rachel Cooney and Charlotte Almond joined forces with Warrington Rowing Club’s Ella Stanhope and Libby Myers in a composite under 16s girls’ quad that set the second-fastest time during a time trial.

Their reward is a place in Sunday’s semi-finals.

Grange School also have a representative in action today after Ellie Cushen secured her spot in the under 16s girls’ single scull semi-finals.

She shared ninth position with Orla Supple (Tideway Scullers) after they both timed 7.31.2.

Two more Northwich boats completed their campaign on Saturday afternoon.

Patrick Brogan, in an under 15s boys’ single, finished 17th overall.

Meanwhile an under 15s girls’ coxed quad, with Frances Campbell, Olivia Dunnett, Molly Garlick, Amber Sperring-Toy and cox Sophie Garlick on board, classified 13th after winning their category’s C final.

Grange's Jack McGinn was eliminated after a time trial in the under 15s boys' single scull.

Results

Junior men’s quad

Time trial

4. Northwich RC (Josh Burke, Rhys Coffey, George Crouchley and Kevin Dudley) 5.17.2

Under 16s boys’ coxless pairs

Time trial

3. Northwich RC (Will Miles, Tom Swithenbank) 6.32.6

Under 16s girls’ quad

Time trial

2 Northwich and Warrington RC (Rachel Cooney, Charlotte Almond, Ella Stanhope, Libby Myers) 6.11.3

Under 16s girls’ double

1 Northwich RC (Georgia Shirley, Sophie Gillbanks) 6.34.4

Under 16s boys' single

Time trial

31. Grange School RC (Jack McGinn) 7.24.6

Under 16s girls’ single

Time trial

9=. Grange School RC (Ellie Cushen) 7.31.2

Under 15s boys’ single scull

Time trial

15. Northwich RC (Patrick Brogan) 6.46.8; 31. Grange School RC (Jack McGinn) 7.24.6

C final

5. Northwich RC (Patrick Brogan) 10.13.61

Under 15s girls’ coxed quad

Time trial

13. Northwich RC (F Campbell, Olivia Dunnett, Molly Garlick, Amber Sperring-Toy and cox S Garlick)

C final

1 Northwich RC (Frances Campbell, Olivia Dunnett, Molly Garlick, Amber Sperring-Toy and cox Sophie Garlick) 9.27.22

What happens next?

British Rowing Junior Championships

Sunday, July 16

0835 WJ16 4x Semi-finals Northwich RC and Warrington RC (Rachley Cooney, Charlotte Almond, Ella Stanhope and Libby Myers)

1010 WJ16 1x Semi-finals Grange School (Ellie Cushen)

1140 OJ18 4x Semi-finals Northwich RC (Josh Burke, Rhys Coffey, George Crouchley and Kevin Dudley)

1205WJ16 2x semi-finals Northwich RC (Georgia Shirley, Sophie Gillbanks)

1500 OJ16 2- A final Northwich RC (Will Miles, Tom Swithenbank)