ROWERS made the most of perfect racing conditions during the Northwich Spring Head on Sunday.

And hosts Northwich Rowing Club were among the most successful.

Beth Willford-Dutton, returning from a three-day assessment for the Great Britain junior team at Nottingham, was a convincing winner in the women’s senior single scull.

Second-placed Zoe Coates (Bradford ARC) was more than 50 seconds adrift following a race against the clock over a 2,350m course on the River Weaver.

Kevin Dudley (under 18s boys), Joshua Burke (under 17s boys), Imogen Wolstencroft (under 17s girls) and Sophie Gillbanks (under 16s girls) all claimed category honours in the morning division too.

Dudley was later joined by Rhys Coffey, George Crouchley and Tom Swithenbank in an under 18s boys’ quad that edged their neighbours from Grange School.

The latter added a comfortable victory in an under 16s boys’ double scull with William Miles, while Hannah Cooney and Wolstencroft were unopposed in the under 18s girls’ double sculls following Merchant Taylors’ School’s withdrawal.

Gillbanks returned to the water with Rachel Cooney to see off the challenge of their rivals from Liverpool Victoria in an under 16s girls’ double.

Willford-Dutton, Wolstencroft, and both Cooneys also made up an under 18s girls’ quad that was faster than their opposition from Warrington, stopping the clock in 8.50.2.

There was a victory too for Katherine Schofield, competing in Sir John Deane’s College colours, in a women’s novice single.

Grange School sent more than 50 students to take part, and made a short journey back home with four boat class wins.

Archie McCauley, Cameron Herron, Tom Clough and Jamie Hawes claimed category honours in an under 16s boys’ quad, winning by 30 seconds.

Lucy Hall coxed an under 15s boys’ quad – with Morgan Gray, Nat Morrey, Sam Thorington and Matt Kenyon on board – to a narrow victory over Warrington.

Less than a second separated the two crews, with the Hartford boat winning in 9.13.4.

Meanwhile Brad Strickland-Baker and Seb Paisley pipped York City to first prize in an under 15s boys’ double scull, clocking 9.06.6.

Grange School students Frances Campbell and Neve Bradshaw made up a composite crew with Northwich duo Christina Preston and Schofield that was the fastest under 17s girls’ quad.

Both clubs turn their attention next to the annual Junior Inter-Regional Regatta at the National Water Sports Centre, in Nottingham, later this month.

Their rowers will represent the North West.