FORMER Green Hill School pupil Philippa Turner, together with Fern Cotterill, rowing for Wycliffe, won Gold in the WJ15 doubles event at the National Championships of Great Britain.

Held at the National Watersports Centre, Nottingham, the competition was even stiffer than that at the National Schools Regatta held in June where the county duo managed silver behind the mighty Henley.

The expected contenders in this event were Henley, Tideway Scullers, Newark and Wycliffe. This was not going to be easy despite the undoubted pedigree in the Wycliffe boat.

Philippa, from Wickhamford, gained the record in the WJ14 double last season, winning gold despite the windy conditions. This year the water was fast and the conditions calm and record time was likely.

The first heat was massive with three of the four favourites in the same competition and Tideway Scullers dominated, beating Henley by 20 seconds with Wycliffe just behind third. Three went through to the semi-final but alarm bells were ringing as Tideway were already 15 seconds inside last year's time.

Tideway and Newark were next in the semi, with Worcester and Gloucester. Tideway led from start to finish and reduced the time still further but this time Wycliffe were within six seconds.

Cotterill had to get out of her single scull after racing 2000 metres in her final and get straight into the double, thus putting Wycliffe at a disadvantage.

Henley stormed off the start with Tideway, with Wycliffe third at 500 metres but Turner and Cotterill were in touch. At 1000 metres Tideway started to feel the pace and were dropping back with Newark arriving fast in lane one.

Henley continued to dominate and lead Wycliffe by two lengths but could not shake off the challenge by Pip and Fern.

With 500 to go Wycliffe went for broke, they pushed and this time Henley could not respond although they had two lengths. Wycliffe continued to power on and they passed an amazed Henley and won by a length.

The time was a new record of 7m 53s, down from last year's 8m 44s held by Avon County.

The day was not over for Philippa as she had to get out of her double and get into a Quad for the final of the WJ16 girls' quad. The race was a much more relaxed affair, but extremely hard with Henley leading from the start and Wycliffe and George Watson's College fighting for silver and were bow ball to bow ball all the way down the 2000 meter course. With 500 to go Wycliffe eased ahead to win the silver, two lengths behind winners Henley.