SIBLINGS that learned to row at Grange School in Northwich have been selected to represent Great Britain at senior level.

Tom Ford and Emily, his younger sister, were named this morning in a 54-strong team for the first World Cup regatta of a new season.

“It’s not quite sunk in yet,” said Emily, who will make her debut as part of a women’s pair in Belgrade.

“It’s a huge thrill, and I feel excited because this has been my dream for such a long time.”

She is joined by another newcomer, Emily Ashford, who is a fellow Leander Club member.

Ford, 23, moved to Henley last year after graduating from Newcastle University.

She was invited to train with the British squad last month after finishing fifth, together with Ashford, during an assessment back in February.

“It’s probably happened more quickly than I expected,” said Ford.

“Of course it was my aim after coming down here, but you’re never quite sure how things might work out.”

Northwich Guardian:

Emily Ford, right, celebrates with the rest of a British women's four after they took bronze at the World Rowing Under 23s Championships in Bulgaria in 2015. Picture: Peter Spurrier/Intersport Images

Tom will compete in a men’s four with James Johnston, Adam Neill and Jacob Dawson.

It marks his second term in the senior set-up after narrowly missing out on a medal, as part of a men’s coxed pair, at the World Rowing Championships in Florida last September.

He said: “It’s a new project, but one I’m really looking forward to.

“We’ve been going well over the past three weeks, and feel ready to race again.”

He took silver on his debut at last year’s opener, also in Serbia, as part of a men’s eight.

The World Cup regatta starts on Friday week, June 1.

BBC Sport will broadcast the finals live on Sunday, from 9.30am.