FOUR top rowers from the region have joined forces to represent the West Midlands.

Serena Crump and Helen Phil-lips, from Hereford, have linked up with Worcester's Jane Fisher and Jennifer Smith from Warwick.

After winning the Inter Regional Championships the crew travelled to Belgium to race at Gent International Regatta.

The crew won their heat easily to qualify for the finals of the senior women's quads (crew of four each one with two blades racing over 2000 metres).

The final was an exciting affair with little to choose between the West Midlands boat, Germany and England.

The England quad pulled ahead at the half-way stage and held onto their lead in spite of a fast final 500m by the crew.

Fisher came back to the UK with a silver medal in the women's eights after joining forces with Upper Thames Rowing Club.

The eight pushed the England crew very hard to finish two seconds behind them to gain silver.

This was a brilliant result for a club side to give the national team, who will represent England at the Commonwealth Games in August, such a close race.

Fisher used to teach at North Bromsgrove High School, then Bromsgrove School. She now teaches at Worcester Sixth Form College.

She also travelled to the World Indoor Rowing Championships in Boston earlier in the year where she won gold.