A DUO of budding rowers took on the country's best and came away with silver medals from the Junior Inter Regional Regatta.

ake Birch, from Weobley School and Henry Fraser, from Bishops won silver medals in the Junior14 Double sculls event at the regatta held at The National Watersports Centre in Nottingham last weekend. The pairing almost clinched gold but had to settle for silver after coming a close second to a fast Exeter Rowing Club double scull.

The junior Inter Regional regatta is held annually and is a national level competition between the 12 rowing regions of England and Wales.

Each region carries out a selection process to select their best crews from the under 14 to under 16 age groups.

Birch and Fraser were selected to represent the West Midlands, having beaten crews in their age category and older youngsters up to under-16s.

Normally the event is dominated by the London area Thames clubs but the Hereford pairing proved more than a match for their southern counterparts.

The pair will be competing at the Hereford Rowing Regatta next weekend (June 2 and 3) and hope to remain victorious in their double against clubs including Monmouth, Worcester and Bristol.