TEENAGERS from Northwich can make an impression at Henley Royal Regatta, one of the most prestigious events on the sporting calendar, according to their coach.

Organisers think so too, seeding crews from Grange School and Northwich Rowing Club in a draw for the Fawley Challenge Cup.

Both boats race for the first time tomorrow, Thursday.

But they will not know their opponents until later today, Wednesday.

“The boys are feeling positive,” said Jed Barlow, coach of a Northwich junior men’s quad consisting of Harry Blake, George Lawton, Leon Langmead and Sam Harte.

“We know exactly where we stand among domestic crews.

“There’s probably two outstanding boats – Sir Williams Borlase’s and Glasgow Academy – in the field along with a couple of dark horses.

“Nottingham looked strong when they beat us at Marlow [Regatta], but we’ve only raced against them once.”

His crew are on the opposite side of the draw to champions Sir William Borlase’s School, who defeated Windsor Boys’ School – conquerors of Northwich in the heats – in the final last year.

Langmead was in the boat that day and, according to Barlow, has shared his experience with the others.

“They know what to expect, Leon’s filled them in,” he said.

“They’ve absorbed what people have told them, but they’re strong boys and I’m sure will take it in their stride.”

Northwich have left nothing to chance in their preparation, which concluded with sessions at Oxford Brookes University at the weekend.

They were category winners at Nottingham City and Chester Regattas, collecting a silver medal in their boat class at the National Schools’ Regatta too.

They will race the victors of a first-round encounter between Leander B and Reading.

Barlow said: “We changed our plans slightly based on our experience in 2014.

“It’s different rowing at Henley to ambling down our River Weaver, and so we wanted to get as close as we could to recreating that by training on the Thames.”

Neighbours Grange, with Matt Roe, Jonny Glover, Scott Ozsanlav-Harris and Matt Strickland-Baker completing their quartet, have been close behind at events attended by both crews.

For them, Tiffin School or Frankfurter will provide the opposition on Thursday.

Barlow told the Guardian that the Northwich quad’s success in qualifying to compete at Henley, and that of crews from both clubs in the past few years, is inspiring younger rowers.

He added: “It’s having an impact, definitely.

“Four or five years ago we had Ed Grisedale come through, but initially people looked at him as a one-off – like he was from a different planet.

“The culture is different now; juniors know, and can see the evidence, that we have a programme that can help them to compete at events like Henley.

“They have a chance because we’ve a formula that works. That seems to inspire people.”