FINE performances from Worcester Rowing Club's youngsters won success and praise at the Shrewsbury Regatta.

Despite the blazing heat, the city's junior squad notched up five wins and race after race had spectators at the Pengwern club roaring with excitement.

Two days running, Phil Vincent won the junior single sculls, beating off the opposition in both the 1,000m and 600m events.

Laura Androlia and Genny Hinchliffe won the J14 double sculls. And in an exciting all Worcester final, Androlia and Tiz Shrimpton beat Hinchliffe and Lucy Cording in the J14 event on Sunday.

One of the best events of the weekend saw the city's J15 Bs take on the Royal Chester boat who had just defeated the A crew in the semi-final.

In extremely hot conditions, the crews rowed their hearts out, finishing an exciting race by crossing the line in a dead heat.

Shrugging off exhaustion, they then turned in a re-row as pulsating as the first, with Worcester just losing to Royal Chester by a canvas.

The best race of the following day was also a J15 final. This time it was an all-Worcester contest, with both teams desperate to succeed.

Sheer determination kept the crews neck and neck until the B boat with Emily Stenson, Tamara Hopkins, Laura Telfer and Ruth Brown, coxed by Tiz Shrimpton, pulled ahead to beat the As at the line.

Such was the standard that the Shrewsbury commentator made a point of praising the Worcester coaching and excellent quads.

WRC's J15 crews now plan to make the most of their training and competitive spirit by entering for the National Schools Regatta at Holme Pierpoint in Nottingham at the end of May.