ROWING: NORTHWICH managed only one senior victory at the club's spring Head of the River event on Saturday. They also won a junior honour, though several other crews were denied success by a few seconds, or even a fraction of a second. There was pride in the performance of George Laughton, now a university student and Great Britain squad man, who won the single sculling division over the 2,000 Weaver course in 8mins 34secs. Following him down was homester Tom Carter in 8.58 and other club-mates were timed at: Jamie Leighton 9.10, John Cowen 9.13, Geoff Sims 9.23, Dave Street 9.55, Phil Silk 10.11, Stuart Jones 10.16, Steve Parry 10.17 and Mary Hunt 10.52. Northwich's victory was achieved by Senior lll double scullers Matt Jump and Jamie Leighton timed at 8.24. Josh Peach (Northwich) and Runcorn's George Patrick made up the composite J13s doubles winning crew, on a day when Northwich's return was the worst for years. The home veteran eight raced to an 8.04 finish, repeating the form they showed on the Thames the previous week when they finished 97th at the London Head in 21.18. The event attracted 200 entries from across the north, but they were met by heavy showers and winds so fierce two crews were blown into the water. Conditions eased somewhat for the final division, which produced the fastest Northwich boat of the day - the first eight of Tom Carter, Jump, Leighton, Cowen, Tom Green, Sims, Sam Cooper, Phil Mallinson and cox Karen Airey. They had finished in 100th place on the Thames and completed the Weaver race in 7.23, just three second behind winners Agecroft. The second eight, who were 250th at the London Head, followed in 7.55 with a time of 7.55. Women's Senior lll double of Sarah Patrick and Leanne Ratcliffe missed out on first place by only 0.3 seconds in 9.43.6. nFor Mid Cheshire's part in the Boat Race day, see back page. | 
