A SEMI-FINAL appearance for the junior women’s quad at the Henley Royal Regatta is “massive” for Warrington Rowing Club, coach Richard Sinnott says.

The team of Lucy Glover, Ellie Davies, Lucy Stanhope and Pippa Curran were just edged out by Oxford’s Headington School in the last four of the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup on Saturday.

Sinnott put the team’s achievements at the “mind-boggling” event into perspective.

“We’re very proud, a lot of people were at the club watching the race on Saturday but sadly the race didn’t quite go our way,” he said.

“There is disappointment of course, especially given how tight the race was.

“We were the only club from the north of England to get to the Saturday, for a smaller club like us it’s a massive achievement.

“Henley is the hidden secret of British sport and the girls have done great.”

The crew competed in three races overall after comfortable victories in their first two outings at the prestigious regatta, but attention now turns to challenges ahead.

“Lucy (Glover) is now trying to qualify for the World Championships for juniors and Ellie is trying to make the team for the European Championships,” Sinnott said.

“Both of them are eligible for Henley next year and they’ll be back to have another crack at it.”