EVESHAM'S junior 16 coxless quad is the best in the country and proved it in a thrilling race at the world-class rowing facility at Dorney Lake, Eton.

The National Junior Sculling Head attracted 100s of Britain's top school and club crews to a venue that will host the 2012 Olympic events.

The crew of Oli Staite, Will Tew, Danny Middleton and Rory Sullivan were seeded third for an event that pitted 20 crews from around the country against each other.

This year's race was unusual in being held on a lake facility. The races are usually held at Henley but high water levels over the winter meant the race was moved to Eton.

Junior 16 crews and above raced twice over the lake. They raced 1,900 metres then rowed back to the start for a second race over the same distance.

The Evesham boys rowed their first race in six minutes 27.8 seconds and their second in 6.31.8 giving them a one-second advantage over their closest competitors from Warrington - enough to secure the gold medal.

There were no other medal places for Evesham crews at the Scullers Head although several of the younger crews put in performances that showed a lot of promise for later in the season.

Evesham's J16 coxed four was in action at the National Schools Head in London - an event is for 'sweep oar' crews, rowing with one oar, not two.

The Evesham crew of Ben and Jon Farrar, James Crumpton and Josh Hendry finished in second place behind a strong crew from St George's School.

Special mention must be made of cox Jack Lazenby whose sheer determination ensured the Evesham crew made the most of the river currents and whose steering can only be described as feisty!

He forced the Evesham crew through between two other boats, despite a slight clash of blades, and this enabled the boys to shave vital seconds off their time.

Worcester's Head of the River was the scene of a victory for another Evesham junior coxed crew when Matthew Murphy, Jordan Bunyan, Fred Hardman and Dan Walker won the novice men's coxless quad event.