WARRINGTON rowing stars pushed their claims for World Cup selection in the GB Senior Trials in Belgium at the weekend.

Olympians Olivia Whitlam and Richard Egington look set for the first international regatta in Banyoles, Spain, next month after finishing first and second in the final of the women’s and men’s pair events in Hazewinkel on Monday.

Youth international and current Warrington Sports Personality of the Year Olivia Oakes continued her excellent progress with her first appearance in the senior trials, finishing second in the women’s pair B final with University of London partner Louise Entwistle.

Daresbury 23-year-old Whitlam and her partner Louisa Reeve came together late as they gained last-gasp qualification for Beijing last summer, going on to reach the final.

They have built on that success and dominated the women’s pair event in Hazewinkel, winning the final by more than four seconds.

Egington, aged 30, has set his sights on a London 2012 golden shot in either the men’s four or pair boats and gave an indication of his early season form.

Partnering Leander clubmate Alex Partridge, a fellow member of the Olympic silver winning men’s eight crew, they clocked 6mins 30.66secs to finish second to two other Beijing squad members, Peter Reed and Alex Gregory in Monday’s final.