FORMER Alice Ottley School, Worcester, 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 Worcestershire duo managed silver behind the mighty Henley Rowing Club.

The expected contenders were Henley, gold medallists National Schools, Tideway Scullers, specially trained for this event, Newark, J15 Champions at Peterborough 2002, together with Wycliffe.

It was not going to be easy despite the undoubted pedigree in the Wycliffe boat.

Turner, from Wickhamford, near Evesham, held the record in the WJ14 double last season winning gold in a new record time despite the prevailing windy conditions, and she and Cotterill, from Tenbury, were both confident.

The first heat involved three of the four favourites and Tideway beat Henley by 20 seconds with Wycliffe just behind third. Tideway were already 15 seconds inside last year's time.

Tideway and Newark were next in the semi together with Worcester and Gloucester. Tideway again dominated leading from start to finish and reduced the time still further, but this time Wycliffe were within six seconds just edging out a powerful Newark team. Worcester failed to make the final.

In the final Henley stormed off the start with Tideway with Wycliffe third at 500 metres but Turner and Cotterill were in touch.

At 1000 metres to the shock of the Tideway coach, Tideway started to feel the pace and were dropping back with Newark arriving fast in lane one.

Henley continued to dominate and led Wycliffe by two lengths but could not shake off the challenge by Turner and Cotterill who matched all Henley's split times.

At 750 metres to go a push initiated by Wycliffe was responded to by Henley as these two started to leave the field. With 500 to go Wycliffe went for broke, they pushed and this time Henley could not respond but they had two lengths lead.

Wycliffe continued to power on and they passed an amazed Henley and won by a length. The time was a new record winning in 7m 53s down from last years 8.44 held by Avon County.

Turner later returned to the water to take the silver in the WJ16 quad.