A NORTHWICH crew won a bronze medal during Friday’s Junior Sculling Head at Dorney Lake.

George Crouchley stroked an under 17s boys’ quad, consisting too of Rhys Coffey, Lawrence Williams and Matthew Radford, to third in class at a venue used for the Olympic Games regatta four years ago.

They completed two legs of an 1,800m course in 12.47.

Seven other crews competed at Eton in green and gold.

An under 18s boys’ quad with George Lawton in the stroke seat, joined by Greg Murphy, Harry Taylor and Kevin Dudley, came fifth.

Beth Willford-Dutton, Imogen Wolstencroft, Anya George and Hannah Cooney classified in the same position in an under 17s girls’ quad.

The previous day had seen a Northwich crew rank 13th in the championship girls' eights at the Schools’ Head of the River on the Tideway.

They completed the course in 22.50.

“Once again our juniors have demonstrated the club’s strength in depth when competing against the best crews from across the country,” said coach Rachel Hooper.

Lawton and Taylor, after impressing coaches during an assessment last month, will spend four days at a trial in Nottingham this week.

They go there hoping a place in the British team for the Munich International Regatta is a reward.

Neighbours Grange School Rowing Club were encouraged by their young crews’ performances.

Firstly, an under 16s girls’ four took fifth place at the Schools’ Head on Thursday.

“Theirs was a great result,” reflected head coach Graham Jump.

The Hartford school sent 71 rowers, aged between 13 and 18, to the Junior Sculling Head the next day.

An under 14s boys’ quad, competing against rivals from other clubs for the first time, claimed sixth place in their boat class.

Seb Paisley, Jack McGinn, Brad Strickland-Baker, Harry Barker and cox Olly Andrew were on board.

Grange’s best result, fourth, was secured by their under 15s girls’ eight.

Annabelle Matthews, Freya Sheldon, Bryony Webb, Bree Livesey, Francis Campbell, Joanna Ravenscroft, Ellie Cushen, Maddie Brougham and cox Alex Collins completed 3.6km in 14.53.

There were top-10 results too for an under 15s boys’ eight, an under 17s boys’ quad – both seventh – and an under 15s boys’ coxed quad that ranked eighth.

Jump added: “They all gave a great account of themselves.

"It was the first time our under 14s squad had represented the school, and I’m sure it will be a day they remember for a long time.”

Northwich Guardian:

Grange School's under 14s girls' octuple makeing their competitive debut in the Junior Sculling Head at Dorney Lake on Friday