ST Neots Rowing Club came away with a gold and two silver medals from the National Schools Regatta at the weekend, the premier junior regatta of the season. Sam Howell, who won a gold two weeks ago at Nottingham in the Inter-Regional Championships, took

ST Neots Rowing Club came away with a gold and two silver medals from the National Schools Regatta at the weekend, the premier junior regatta of the season.

Sam Howell, who won a gold two weeks ago at Nottingham in the Inter-Regional Championships, took the Junior 15 sculls title from a field of 32 oarsmen.

Howell posted the second fasteset time in the heats before going on to comfortably win his semi-final race.

Despite racing in an age group a year above his own, Howell put in a confident performance in the final to cross the line in first place, winning by a clear length.

Joanna Fitzsimons and Natalie Bream took a silver medal, winning the Junior 16 double sculls with a strong row.

Beating the Warrington crew that beat them at Nottingham, Saints won their semi-final to progress.

In the final, the battle was expected to be between the Saints crew and Maidenhead, but the wind favoured the Maidstone boat and they went on to win.

Saints held off challenges from Maidenhead and Warrington to hold on for second.

Racing in the Junior 16 single sculls the next day, Fitzsimons added another silver medal to her tally.

Having easily won her semi-final, Fitzsimons battled with a rower from the Warrington crew she'd beaten in the double sculls in the final.

The race was close from start to finish, but the Warrington rower pulled away at the finish to win by a length.