NORTHWICH rower Matthew Langridge has been crowned a senior world champion for a second time.

He helped Great Britain’s men’s four to recapture a title they won two years ago on the water at Slovenia’s Lake Bled earlier today, Sunday.

And they did it in style too.

Trailing to Australia after the race’s first 500m, the British quartet edged ahead at halfway before a blistering third sector saw them open up a commanding lead.

A customary fast finish from Greece, silver medallists a year ago, was not enough to worry Langridge’s crew though.

Knutsford’s Richard Egington, Tom James and Alex Gregory joined him on board.

Victory means the British boat finishes the season unbeaten following two victories in the World Cup series and at Henley Royal Regatta earlier this summer.

They were not headed in the world championships either.

Former Northwich rowing club star Langridge, 28, also celebrated success on the world stage as a junior sculler back in 2001.

Now, with less than a year to go before the Olympic Games in London, he is now well-placed to add to the silver gong he won as part of the men’s eight in Beijing three years ago.

The British team has won three Olympics class gold medals in Slovenia, earning qualifying places for 13 of the 14 boats for 2012.

More to follow.

Rowing World Championships
Men’s four final
Sunday September 4
1. Great Britain (Matthew Langridge, Richard Egington, Tom James, Alex Gregory) 5:55.18
2. Greece 5:57.20
3. Australia 5:58.44
4. USA 6:01.39
5. Germany 6:01.78
6. Netherlands 6:11.82