WORCESTER Rowing Club returned from the National Championships in Strathclyde with two prestigious trophies -- men's open eights and in men's open coxless fours.

Worcester were matched against two Great Britain crews in the 'Blue Riband' eights event who are soon to compete in their respective World Championships and the London Rowing Club, with Worcester and London fighting for the coveted title of national champions.

The two Great Britain crews went out hard from the start and, with London chasing them, it left the Worcester crew with a lot to do at the half-way mark. They were closing the gap, however, and at the 250-metre mark they were just a split second behind London.

Worcester drew on their reserves and made one final push to just nose in front of London on the line and win their first National Men's Open Eights title in their 130-year history.

The club's men's squad completed a successful day by also taking the National Club Champions title in coxless fours, racing against a Great Britain crew, Leander, Imperial College and London.

GB led away from the start but Worcester powered after them leaving the London crew in their wake.

The GB crew in the slightly more sheltered lane maintained their lead with Worcester rowing within themselves to beat London and Leander Rowing clubs to finish the day with national titles in two events.

The winning Worcester squad was Christopher Chilton, Christopher Farr, Ross Barnes, Phill Whiteley, Ian Previtt, Matt Norman, Jeremy Richardson, Pete Crozier and Coxswain Ruth Brown.