DAVID Kidwell and Matt Green made Windermere Rowing Club history at the North of England Sprint Championships.

Under early-autumnal sunny skies at Hollingsworth Lake, just north of Manchester, club coach Kidwell and partner Green won the men's double sculls.

The goal medal was Windermere's first success at an open regatta, and came after Green had taken bronze in the single sculls event.

The club sent four crews, three men's and one women's, and reached two finals.

John Peatfield, the club's new captain, and Adrian Downe came up against strong opposition in their double scull, just losing to the eventual winners.

Tamsin Kidwell and Liz Ashburn had all the spectators on their feet as the lead changed hands several times in their race, and both crews were level passing the grandstand before the Windermere duo lost by less than a second.

Green was the star of the day.

He won his semi-final in the single sculls and took bronze in a close final before teaming up with Kidwell to win by two lengths against Bradford Rowing Club.

“Racing in buoyed lanes was a new experience for us as we are used to the open water of Windermere, but best of all was the spirit – we had a small team but massive camaraderie,” said Peatfield.

“The success follows a great year for us, where we have seen loads of new members through our learn to row courses and the near-completion of the new water sports centre at Fell Foot.”