George Lawton wins men's club singles in Head of the Charles Regatta

It was the year the Northwich Rowing Club ace achieved his greatest win on the water.

The 26-year-old former Great Britain junior and under 23 international won the men’s club singles at the biggest rowing event in the world.

Account manager Lawton clocked 18mins 22.115secs over the 4,800m course against 37 other scullers to finish one second ahead of Philadelphia’s Jack Higgins in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, USA.

The event is huge and attracts over 9,000 competitors from all over the world, including Olympians.

Lawton, who learned to row at Northwich and returned to the club after completing his studies at Reading University, has competed at the event before for Reading but this was the first time competing in the single at the event.

“This is the best win I have had in my career,” said Lawton.

“Not just because of the event but rowing and representing my boyhood club on an international stage is what sets this one above the rest.

“The event is huge, it lasts over three days and thousands of people compete in this from junior rowers to Olympic champions. It's the biggest head (time trial style race) in the world.

“While this is a great achievement for me it's also a big achievement for the club and a special mention goes out to Jed Barlow who had coached me since I was 15 and pushed me to be the best I can be while making it enjoyable and rewarding.”