TWINS Jess and Alex Eddie are proving a powerful partnership in the junior rowing world.

The sisters, separated by 22 minutes at birth, have shared a passion for rowing since a friend introduced them to the amateur club in Durham as 11-year-olds.

Now aged 15, they have run up 20 wins together this season, and recently beat off the challenge of the public school-backed opposition in GB squad trials. They earned selection at junior-16s level in double sculls, using twin-bladed oars, for an international match in France.

Despite losing to a more experienced French duo, they were only two lengths behind at the finishing line in their international debut in Nantes.

But the twins enjoyed the experience and hope their weekly routine of six-days' rigorous river training, under coach Gordon Beattie, will lead to further international call-ups.

Alex said: "We will still be in the under-16s category next summer, but a year older, and we have the option of competing either as a pair, or in singles."

Despite being slightly older, Alex claims Jess is the more talkative.

"I sit in front and she does the shouting, but we get on quite well."

The aim is to qualify for next summer's junior European championship, although preparations must fit around GCSE studies at Durham St Leonard's School.