EVESHAM rowers performed outstandingly well at local and national level last weekend when the juniors were in action at the National Schools Regatta in Nottingham and the seniors travelled to the new two-day Mon-mouth Regatta.

Extended to three days to ensure crews from all over the country could compete, Friday's races were run for the younger athletes over 1000m.

The J14 girls quad had comfortable wins in the first round and semi-final before facing a strong field from Molesey, Surbiton, Kings Worcester, Headington and St Edwards in the final.

Having fought a tense tussle with Surbiton for second place over much of the course, they responded to cox Rachel Heggarty's call with a blistering burst in an attempt to catch leaders Molesey.

In the tightest finish of the day, they took the silver medal, missing out on gold by a mere five-hundredths of a seconds.

The boys J15 double scull sailed through the first two rounds, winning the semi-final by more than three lengths.

In the final they raised their game with a fast start that left them in a strong second place for much of the course.

Pipped

Improving their time by ten seconds from the semi-final, they were just pipped on the line by Yarm but took a well deserved bronze medal.

The J14 and J15 girls doubles also made their finals, narrowly missing out on the medals.

The course was extended to the full international race distance of 2000m for racing on Saturday and Sunday when the weather was unusually calm for the Nottingham course.

In the girls J15 quad sculls, the Evesham Technology sponsored crew beat Bryanston and Marlow in the eliminator and arch rivals St Leonards in the semi-final.

In the final, despite a poor start, the girls gave a tremendous effort, coming through to take the silver medal behind a relieved St Leonards.

The boys' J15 quad was also knocked out by the same opposition in the semi-final.

Evesham sculler Andrew Walker, sporting Leander colours, enjoyed victories in first round and semi-final before coming up against fellow GB juniors Purchase and Tipney in the final.

Having expended much energy in the earlier rounds, he just missed out on the medals, with Chin of Dulwich College taking the bronze.

A large contingent of supporters from Evesham stayed over to Sunday looking forward to some exciting racing, and they were justly rewarded.

First off were the boys' J16 double sculls who, after only three training outings, won through to the semi-finals in hotly contested competition.

The premier event of the day was the girls' J16 coxed four and Evesham won through to the final with a spirited performance.

The final was a cracking race with Evesham running third until the halfway stage. Urged on by coaches and supporters, stroke Chloe Farrar upped the pressure and they eased past Bedford High School, taking a canvas lead in two strokes.

Crossing the finishing line in second place to a Reading crew of World Class Start athletes, coaches Norman and Steve Redgewell could celebrate a highly successful weekend with three silver medals.

Closer to home, the Evesham senior squad enjoyed a sunny weekend on the river Wye in Monmouth.

All crews had an excellent time, but pride of place goes to the ladies novice coxed four who beat Bristol Ariel in the semi-finals and clubmates Evesham B in a closely-fought final.

Schools crews - J14G: Sophie Small, Oli Jeacock, Tor Messent, Cati Baird, cox Rachael Heggarty. J14G: Jorden Lane, Gemma Nicholls. J15G: Becky Wood, Sara Howe, Emma Purfield, Chloe Farrar, cox Anna Chilvers. J15G: E Purfield, Sara Howe. J16G: E Purfield, Cherry Gayton, Emma Woodedd, C Farrar, cox Anna Chilvers. J15: Sergeui Phoursa, Tom Walker. J15: Sam Churchill, Rob Davies, Peter Byrd, Marcus Hutchings, cox Natasha Symonds. J16: Sergeui Phoursa, Ali Gregory.

Monmouth: Denise Hickman, Mandy Cox, Emma Turner, Vic Seymour, cox Charlotte Biddle.