Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club’s juniors enjoyed a successful weekend at the Gloucester Autumn Head, despite challenging conditions on the 5km course.

After a tough 7km row to the start line into a headwind, the U16 girls double of Martina Bruce and Lilly Parsons set off at a fast but controlled pace.

They maintained good boat speed and a tight line around the bends, despite being held up briefly by slower traffic under a bridge.

They finished strongly in a time of 24:45 to take fifth place out of eight in their category.

The J16 double of Reuben Stanford and Connor Birrell, ranked second before the race, produced an impressive performance to finish first in their category. They kept in touch with the leading Hereford crew before drawing level over the final 1.5km and eventually winning by 30 seconds.

They also recorded the fastest double on the water over the long course and the seventh fastest time overall out of 131 boats.

The J17/18 squad also enjoyed a successful morning despite gusty winds. The WJ18 quad of Martha Cooke, Maria Ntoukaki, Tessa Parkin and Martha Baines finished second in their event, while Seb Happel and Euan Richter, rowing up a category in the OJ18 double, came third.

Imogen de Pennington, trialling for GB in the WU19 single sculls, produced a fantastic race to win the event, watched by British Rowing staff.

Conditions improved in the afternoon, with the WJ18 doubles of Martha Baines and Tessa Parkin, and Orla Linforth and Erin Appleton, taking third and fifth respectively. Ed Appleton, also rowing up a category in the OJ18 single Band 2 event, was second.

J17/18 coach Hugo Happel said: “All athletes managed the conditions very well and displayed some great sculling. Well done to all.”

The masters squad was represented by Thomas Doherty, Pete Spivey and Rebecca England.

Doherty and Spivey competed in the masters F double sculls, beating the only other entry from Taunton by three minutes over the 5km course.

Doherty returned to the water in the afternoon to partner Rebecca England in a mixed masters double, completing a mammoth 28km of rowing over the day. Despite having to slow down through narrow bridges because of traffic ahead, the pair also came away with a medal.