MATT Langridge enjoyed a comfortable victory on home waters at the weekend after Team GB’s coxless four starred at the world famous Henley Regatta.

Northwich’s Olympic silver medallist, along with Alex Partridge, Alex Gregory and Richard Egington, easily defeated a rival crew from Wairiki Rowing Club of New Zealand to lift the Stewards’ Challenge Cup in front of a bumper crowd on the Thames.

The success comes just at the right time for Langridge after the Team GB four came a disappointing third in the previous World Cup Regatta at Munich.

Langridge and his crewmates are now fully focused on the final World Cup event at Lucerne in Switzerland this weekend. It is the last chance for the four to test themselves against rival countries before the World Championships in Poznan, Poland, next month.

“To win at Henley was nice as it can be difficult and teams can slip up. It was fairly straight forward for us but we are going to have a much harder race in Lucerne.

“It will be a tough test but we want to make sure that we are getting ourselves in the best shape and make amends for Germany.”

Former Northwich rowers George and Will Laughton, representing Leander, were disappointed to be knocked out of the Challenge Plate semi-final when their eight lost narrowly to Brown University, from USA.

Meanwhile Northwich Rowing Club’s juniors have been enjoying success at two regattas recently.

At Ironbridge, the J16 double of Shane Dickinson and Sam Coverley beat Stourport in the final while the GJ13 double of Kate Meehan and Sam Over defeated Bristol to win their event. Kate and Sam were then joined by Ashleen Hudson, Libby Weltman and cox Emma Roberts in the WJ13 quad to take the glory.

Not to be outdone, the J13 crew of Nathan Jump, Zac Trigg, Liam Adamson, Tom Asteriades and cox Craig Milne outpaced Avon County to bring home the title.

Closer to home at the Runcorn Junior Regatta on the Weaver, Ashleen Hudson won bronze in the J13 singles. Sam Over and Kate Meehan raced five times to take gold in the GJ13 double, and the GJ13 quad of Kate Meehan, Sam Over, Ashleen Hudson, Libby Weltman and cox Emma Roberts also raced to victory.

There was equal success for the boys with the J13 double of Ryan Gamble and Alex Murphy taking gold as well as the J13 coxed quad of Nathan Jump, Alex Murphy, Liam Adamson Tom Asteriades and cox Craig Milne.