WORCESTER blind rower Susannah Barnett won her novice sculls at Bewdley Regatta.

Christening the boat part-funded by the Bransford Trust to promote junior and disability rowing, she took on the able-bodied and sighted to win.

Having got off to a bad start, Barnett clawed back a four-boat length deficit and just clinched the final to beat Warwick by two feet.

Though she had earned numerous wins in mixed doubles, a singles racing win had previously eluded her but two years of hard training have paid off.

Two years ago, Bewdley allowed a blind rower to compete in a mainstream rowing regatta in a first for British Rowing.

Since then, Barnett has been a regular on the racing circuit and encouraged others to follow her lead.