NORTHWICH Rowing Club made home advantage count with five wins at their annual Easter Head Race.

Sian Murray beat her nearest rival by over 18 seconds to win the women's Senior 2 single title in 10 minutes 40.9 seconds over the 2,300-metre course.

For Sian, it was the first of a double triumph as she also won the women's Junior 15 double with Lucy Ryder, their winning margin being 25.3 seconds over runners-up York.

There was also home success in the same event at the 16 years age level, Zosia Rutkowski and Lucy James putting 11.4 seconds worth of clear water between themselves and closest competitors Evesham.

The men's coxed four, stroked by club captain Lee Bradley, had to settle for a share of the spoils as they crossed the line in equal first position with Salford University.

However, there was no doubt about the win for the women's Senior 2 coxed four as stroke Davina Scott, Sue Gibson, Nicky Layther and Sam Ridgeway won in 10 minutes 15.6 seconds, narrowly beating Pengwern by 2.3 seconds.

Northwich was well supported by both clubs and spectators, with 220 crews from all over the north and as far away as Teeside competing.

Three junior Northwich members are representing the West of England at the Inter Regional Championships at Eton on April 29. They are Zosia Rutkowski in the women's Junior coxless quad and Sian Murray and Lucy Ryder in the womens Junior 15 double.