JUNIOR internationals who learned to row in Northwich will attempt to impress selectors during this weekend’s British rowing trials.

Four youngsters – Lucy Burgess, Emily Ford, Thomas Ford and Ed Grisedale – are contenders to make the team for the World Championships for under 23s in July.

They test themselves against members of the senior squad, comprising of World and Olympic medallists, at Caversham from tomorrow, Saturday.

Over two days, rowers compete against each other individually or in a pair.

Up for grabs are places in boats for next month’s European Championships in Belgrade.
Northwich Rowing Club’s Lucy Burgess races in the women’s single scull.

The 19-year-old, a gold medallist in Great Britain’s colours a last year’s Australian Olympic Youth Festival, was third fastest in the category during the season’s first assessment last November.

Former Grange School Rowing Club star Emily Ford, also 19, will represent Newcastle University Boat Club in the women’s pair with Nicole Lamb.

Like Burgess, she was a medallist in Sydney last January.

Emily’s brother Tom, also a former pupil at the Hartford school, joins forces with James Rudkin in the men’s pair.

Ex-Sir John Deane’s College student Ed Grisedale, who competed for Great Britain at the World Junior Championships in 2011, is part of an Oxford Brookes University Boat Club crew in the men’s pair with Tim Grant.

Northwich-born Matthew Langridge, a medallist at the Olympic Games in Beijing and London, will not take part.

According to GB Rowing, the 30-year-old was forced on Friday to withdraw on medical grounds.

Time trials and semi finals take place on Saturday, with the finals to follow on Easter Sunday.