TWO Warrington Rowing Club crews struck gold at the British Indoor Rowing Championships in Birmingham.

Olivia Oakes, Jenny Argent, Katy McQuillian and Hannah Unsworth were victorious in the girls' junior 18 team event, while Chris Johnstone, Luke Balcerak, Tom Pearson and Mike Pownall combined to win the boys' junior 16 race, which was held on rowing machines at the National Indoor Arena.

Oakes and McQuillian, who were two of Warrington's representatives at trials for the Great Britain junior squad in Boston on Saturday, had been part of the junior 16 team that clinched gold last year.

Oakes also added to last year's individual medal with a bronze in the girls' junior 18 category in a personal best time of 7mins 21.8secs, which made her the 31st fastest female rower in any age group at the Birmingham championships.

Johnstone also secured two medals on the day, repeating his 2005 performance with an individual bronze in the boys' junior 16 section in 6mins 30.8secs.

Josh Goswell, Darren Griffiths, Phil Lyons and Matt Spence took silver in the boys' junior 15 team event, while Olivia Clubley, Lottie Cooper, Jenny Pearson and Lauren Rowe were bronze medallists in the girls' junior 15 team race.

Warrington Rowing Club, who run in conjunction with Lymm High School, took a total of 36 junior rowers to the national event.