TEENAGER Georgia Shirley continued an impressive start to the season for Northwich Rowing Club with a commanding victory during last week’s Head of the Bridgewater at Sale.

She completed a 3,200m course in 13.25.2, almost three minutes faster than her closest rival in an under 18s girls’ single scull.

And Shirley, who took part in an assessment for Great Britain’s junior team last month, also stroked an under 17s girls’ double to victory over rivals from hosts Trafford.

Sophie Gillbanks was a victor in the under 17s girls’ category, beating clubmate Imogen Wolstencroft by nine seconds.

There was solo success as well for Patrick Brogan (under 15s boys) and Amber Sperring-Toy (under 15s girls), who both raced over a shorter distance of 1,000m.

An under 15s boys’ coxed quad, with Brogan, Josh Jackson, Joe Dawson, Amir Chowdry and cox James Cruzalegui on board, celebrated success in their boat class with Lancaster Royal Grammar School a distant second.

Cruzalegui also steered an under 15s girls’ coxed quad, consisting of Sperring-Toy, Molly Garlick, Saffron Coppock and Olivia Dunnett, to first place in their category, timing 12.58.3.

Meanwhile an under 14s boys’ coxed quad from Grange School Rowing Club claimed class honours.

Mark Ravenscroft, Will Dunscombe, Cameron Brougham, Will Spencer and cox Ellie Shroeder edged out rivals from North Staffordshire by little more than half a second over the short course.

At the Head of the Trent in Nottingham the next day, Grange’s under 15s boys’ coxed quad of Brad Strickland-Baker, Harry Barker, Sam Thorington, Jack McGinn and cox Olly Andrew were fastest in their category, stopping the clock in 7.00.1 after 4km.