FOR the first time an all Grange School crew have qualified for for Henley Regatta – and three out of the four are brothers.

Twins John and Edward Ford, both 18 and 15-year-old brother Tom were joined in a quad by Rupert Wiltshire, also 15, and won through their qualifying heats on Friday for the Fawley Challenge.

Of 51 boats in for the Fawley, 16 were pre-selected and the other 35 chased eight remaining places based on fastest times over the famous Thames course.

The boys have been coached by Paul Rafferty, who nurtured Olympic oarsman Matthew Langridge to prominence at Northwich Rowing Club.

The opening round of the Fawley is tomorrow (Thursday) with the Grange crew drawn against York City B.

Grange coach Graham Jump said: “It is the first time we have got an all-Grange crew to Henley. The idea was to give Tom and Rupert the experience before John and Ed move on.

“But they sculled superbly against some good crews.”

The Ford brothers live at Holmes Chapel and are the sons of John Ford, owner of car dealers Ford’s of Winsford.