WORCESTER'S Zoe Thompson secured two medals at the National Schools Regatta in Nottingham.

The Royal Grammar School pupil came away with a silver from the girls' junior 15 single sculls over 1,000 metres.

Despite a large entry of 31 boats, Thompson improved on her inter-regional regatta third place.

She then showed impressive resilience in difficult conditions to take bronze in the same event for 16-year-olds.

These were the first national medals for RGS in girls' events and a personal triumph for coach Paul Sterckx.

There were encouraging performances from other RGS crews but no medals. Three other boats reached finals with the top pair of Nick Fenton and Tom Clark finishing sixth in the championship pairs.

The junior 16 coxed four of Chris Bellamy, Charlie Greenway, Ben Kell, Will Jehring and cox Andy James, who won silver and bronze at the inter-regionals, were fifth in their final.

Kirsty Adams and Nikki Trevett, in the girls' championship pairs, did well to reach the final but were unable to finish due to injury.

Both junior 15 crews had good rows in their semi-finals but were not suited to the strong headwinds.

The two school fours, competing mainly against other top boats, gained valuable racing experience and showed the strength in depth of the 21-man squad.

Perhaps the most impressive display from all the boys came from the first eight of Ford, Crawshaw, Taylor, Tait, Szmigin, Clark, Fenton, Price and Huband.

They suffered from an unfavourable lane draw but showed blistering speed in the last 500m to challenge for a place in the final.

The crew now sets their sights on Henley Regatta at the end of June, while others work towards the national championships in July.