HER final stroke proved one of genius for a Warrington Rowing Club teenager who stormed to an unexpected success at Henley Women’s Regatta.

And now Lucy Glover is looking forward to gaining her first international vest as well as competing in a quad at the even more prestigious Henley Royal Regatta this week.

At the women’s event, the 16-year-old entered the junior singles, for under 18s, hoping to make it through time trials to the last 16.

Having surpassed her target, she went on to pip Bedford Girls’ Robyn Armstrong to the title in the final despite only leading for the last stroke.

“You only have to be leading for the last stroke,” said Glover, who won the J16 singles and doubles titles at the National Schools’ Regatta in May.

Warrington RC chairman Richard Sinnott added: “It’s difficult to put into words.

“This event at Henley is rapidly becoming one of the most prestigious women’s events in the world and 20 per cent of entries are foreign.

“We were hoping to do well but we really didn’t think she was going to win.

“She only led for one stroke of the race which was the last one. She was reasonably far behind for up to about three quarters of the way down the track – it’s a great achievement.”

But win Glover did, receiving her medal from London 2012 Paralympic gold medallist Naomi Riches.

“It was quite embarrassing in a way as the prize giving is quite a big deal,” laughed Sinnott.

“You’re supposed to have a blazer but we hadn’t expected to win so ended up scraping around for something respectable to wear!”

Glover has since succeeded in trials at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham for a debut place in the Great Britain under 16s team to race in the annual match against France.

Britain’s top 10 girls in the under 16s category gathered to race off over 1,500m , with Glover’s good rhythm and great technique ensuring she posted the fastest time of 6mins 30secs.

She will also be in a Warrington quad that contests The Diamond Jubilee Trophy in the Henley Royal Regatta after successfully qualifying at the weekend.

Ayesha Wooler, Ellie Davies, Pippa Curran and Glover raced a time trial to be one of the fastest 12 crews from a field of 27 – including entrants from Australia, USA and the best of the UK.

They qualified comfortably and will race against Sir William Borlase School today, Thursday.

Curran and Wooler raced as a junior double at Henley Women’s Regatta, qualifying from the time trial which reduced the field from 22 boats to 16.

They then raced local girls Eton Excelsior and quickly dispatched them, dominating from the start.

Next up they tackled another local crew from Marlow and they proved to be too strong, narrowly beating the Warrington girls and eventually winning the competition.

Lucy Stanhope joined Glover in the junior singles at Henley Women’s Regatta and completed a good time trial but was then drawn against a strong sculler from Bedford and just failed to get the better of her.

n Races at Henley Royal Regatta will be streamed live on YouTube. Heats start today, Thursday, while finals will be on Sunday.