MATTHEW Langridge is a world champion for the second time.

The Northwich-born rower – a crowned best junior sculler on the planet in 2001 – this morning stroked Great Britain’s men’s four to gold at the World Championships in Poland.

There they held of the challenge of rivals Australia in awesome fashion, crossing the line almost two seconds ahead of the men from Down Under.

The quartet trailed their challengers after 500m, but recovered bo lead by almost a length by the race’s halfway point.

That lead was extended to more than two seconds by the next marker at 1,500m as the Australians struggled to respond to the British crew’s power.

They could not close the gap in the final sprint.

Former Hartford High School pupil Langridge, a silver medal winner as part of the men’s eight in Beijing last summer, was joined in the boat by Knutsford’s Ric Egington, Alex Gregory and Alex Partridge.

They finished the 2,000m course in 5:47.28, leaving the Australian quartet to finish in the same place they did in China a year ago.

Slovenia took bronze.

More to follow.

Rowing World Championship
Men’s Four final
1 Great Britain 5:47.28
2 Australia 5:49.20
3 Slovenia 5:51.11
4 Czech Republic 5:52.80
5 France 5:57.03
6 Belarus 5:59.34

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