BOYS in Northwich Rowing Club have become the first in green and gold to take a title at the Fuller’s Head of the River Fours.

George Lawton stroked a quad including Harry Taylor, Kevin Dudley and Greg Murphy to first place in the junior men’s category on the Tideway in London.

They completed a 6.8km course, from Mortlake to Putney, in 19.14 to finish six seconds clear of closest rivals Windsor Boys’ School.

That time ranked the quartet, coached by Jed Barlow, 16th overall in a field or more than 370 boats.

“To see our crews not only compete, but win, on the Tideway is testament to the dedication of the athletes and their coaches,” said captain Stewart Plant.

“In our 140th year, it’s great to celebrate the first all-Northwich crew bringing back a pennant.”

They will receive their prize at a ceremony next Tuesday.

A second Northwich crew, a junior boys’ coxed four of George Crouchley, Rhys Coffey, Matthew Radford, Matthew Roberts and cox Tom Swithenbank, finished 11th in their boat class after timing 21.24.

Ex-Northwich Rowing Club star Matthew Langridge was part of a Leander Club crew that classified as runners-up in the elite coxed four category.

Constantine Louloudis, Pete Reed, Stewart Innes and cox Phelan Hill were in the boat with him.

Tom Ford, a former student at Grange School in Hartford, stroked Leander to third place in the elite coxless fours.