EMILY Ford, a former captain at Grange School Rowing Club, celebrated a victory at Henley Women’s Regatta on Sunday afternoon.

She was in a Newcastle University boat that saw off the challenge of a rival crew from Imperial College in the Frank V Harry Cup final for senior coxless fours.

The 22-year-old, a medallist for Great Britain at the past two World Rowing Under 23s Championships, was joined on the water by Frances Russell, Lola Anderson and Nicole Lamb.

The quartet were comfortable winners, by three lengths, over Tideway Scullers School in a heat on Friday.

They eliminated St Andrews University in the quarter finals the next day before a semi-final success against Oxford Brookes – their closest race of the three-day regatta – on Sunday morning.

Northwich Rowing Club were represented in two boat classes.

Abigail Davies, returning to England from America where she is studying at the University of Louisville, and Maddy Staubitz (Cincinnati Junior RC) narrowly missed out on a place in the senior double sculls main draw after a time trial on Friday.

A junior quad of Anya George, Imogen Wolstencroft, Christina Preston and Katherine Schofield suffered the same fate the next day.

Grange School were also represented at the 30th edition of the annual event.

They provided three scullers – Lucy Cornelissen, Lizzy Boardman and Imi Stubbs – to a composite junior eight with King’s School Chester.

They eliminated Headington School in a heat on Saturday before succumbing to Buckingham Browne and Nichols School, from Boston in the United States, in the quarter finals.

“The girls have come back to school totally inspired – they want to do it all again next year now,” said Graham Jump, head coach at the Hartford school.