Underdogs from a small Teddington rowing club inspired by the Jamaican bobsleigh team featured in Cool Runnings upset the odds by beating the biggest clubs in the country in a national race.

The five-strong team from Walbrook Rowing Club came top of all UK clubs in the 58-runner junior sculling Head of the River race on Friday, March 23.

They came second overall, with only a team from Italy posting a better time.

The girls beat some of the most successful clubs in Britain at Dorney Lake in Eton, where the 2012 Olympic rowing events took place.

Their opponents included Molesey Boat Club which has produced dozens of Team GB rowers.

The team – made of Teddington teens Evie Moffatt and Bella Bridge, both 14; Alice Fraser, 13, from Twickenham; 13-year-old Kiran Dhillon, from Whitton; and Mia Catton, from Twickenham, finished with a time of 15 mins 11 secs in the 3600m coxed quad under-14 race.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

The Walbook Rowing Club team cross the finish line

The girls said they watched Cool Runnings "over and over again" to prepare for the big race.

The 1993 John Candy comedy tells the story of the unlikely team of Jamaican bobsleigh team competing at the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Evie, who goes to Teddington School, said: "We absolutely love that film and watched over and over again before the race. We even dressed in the Jamaican flag to give us inspiration.

"It was really similar to the film because people were being a bit snooty about what we were wearing and our equipment.

"The massive clubs we were competing against have big budgets and rowers who go to really expensive private school where they row all the time.

"They had never even heard of us and thought they could get by us easily, but they were in for a shock.

"Nobody gave those guys a chance and nobody gave us a chance but if you believe in yourself then there is nothing you can't achieve."

The girls have been rewarded with a time trial for Thames London.

Alice, also a student at Teddington School, said the team’s dream is to compete for Team GB.

She said: "We have put our little club on the map. Nobody had heard of us before but now we will be representing Thames London.

"Rowing for Team GB would be amazing. Three of us, me, Evie and Bella all go to Teddington School so it would be a really proud moment if we all rowed for our country.

"It is very competitive so you have to be realistic but it isn't something we have completely given up on."

Walbrook Rowing Club, in Trowlock Way in Teddington, is holding an 'Introduction to Rowing' day on Saturday, April 22.