CREWS from Northwich Rowing Club tested their progress against rivals from across the country during the Hampton Head on Saturday.

Charlotte Almond and Ellie Cushen continued their preparation for an assessment for the British junior team later this month when they classified fourth in an under 18s girls’ double scull.

They also joined forces with Ellie Heathcock and Imogen Wolstencroft to rank fifth in a quad for the same age-group.

“Hampton is a superb event to give us an indication of how we’re doing at this stage of the season,” said Rachel Hooper, the club’s publicity officer.

“There were some strong performances at the weekend, especially when you consider that a large number of our juniors were racing against older athletes.

“It’s a positive start to 2018, and we’ll now build on these results by trying to find more speed ahead of the regatta season.”

Tom Swithenbank, Josh Burke, Harrison Kendall-Smith and Gwilym Harris were 13th in an under 18s boys’ quad.

Burke and Swithenbank also competed in a coxless pair that was ninth fastest to complete a 3,000m course downstream from Sunbury Lock to Hampton Church.

Molly Garlick and Amber Sperring-Toy took fourth in an under 16s girls’ double, and the former completed a quad with Olivia Dunnett, Saffron Coppock and Frances Campbell that was seventh.

Patrick Brogan and Harris, another combination due at the junior national team assessment in Boston, were sixth of the under 16s boys’ doubles in action.

An under 15s girls’ double consisting of Anna Carnell and Honor Campbell were fifth in their boat class.

Carnell, Sophie Garlick, Amelia Roberts, Maisy Jardine and cox Grace Sperring-Toy formed a coxed quad that ranked 24th overall in a huge field of entries.