Brilliant steering by cox Nicki Freeman brought top times for two Worcester Rowing Club crews in the Small Boats Head of the River race.

Gales and rain swept across the Severn, making conditions extremely difficult, but the teenager's coxing was so good that older rivals dogged her line down the river.

Thanks to her eye for the stream, a senior two men's four and a veteran D four from Worcester Rowing Club had the fastest times in their classes in the Worcester Head.

Vet D bowman Keith Tribe, who was rowing with Gerald Harris, David Birtwhistle and Steve Harries, said: "We did 16.25.6 and beat four other Vet D crews, including Bewdley and Upton.

We also beat the Worcester B crew, but they were really the F age group. They were early 60s racing early 50-year-olds, so they also did really well."

There was a good entry for the Head and hosts Worcester came away with a total of six wins.

Jane Fisher took the women's senior 1 sculls, and the club also had the fastest boats in the veteran B coxless pairs, the women's junior double sculls and the women's junior 16 double sculls.

"The gales and rain meant some of the younger and less experienced competitors did not compete, but for most people it was a very good day," said coach Ashley Roberts.

King's School won four events, with Zac Purchase from King's winning the junior 16 singles, beating Evesham's Andrew Walker by a comfortable margin.

Both boys hope to represent Great Britain this season and their current form bodes well for the first trials in November.

The two scullers combined for the afternoon division and recorded a comfortable win in the J16 doubles with one of the quickest times of the day.

The King's girls squad performed excellently with two coxed fours picking up wins and the coxless four of Caroline Hart, Rachel Dawson, Julia Gilbert and Aimee Shaw, who all represented England during the summer, recording the fastest women's time of the day.

Past King's pupil Phil Beard, representing Stourport Boat Club, won the elite singles event with an excellent scull.

The Royal Grammar School and Evesham also made an excellent showing, coming away with a number of wins.