YORK schoolgirl rower Sarah Whitwell warmed up for the forthcoming British National Championships with success at the prestigious Peterborough Junior Regatta.

The 15-year-old Millthorpe School pupil, who rows in competition for Newark RC, sped to victory in the J15 doubles event with Laura Garrow after winning with the Coxed Quad boat.

Whitwell's efforts helped the Newark club win the Victor Ludorum Cup- an award which is usually won by one of the country's top rowing schools.

Whitwell, who recently gained bronze in the National Schools Rowing Championships, is now looking forward to the British National Championships at Holmepierrepoint, Nottingham.

She trains with York City Rowing Club but rows competitively for Newark.

York's men will be hoping to follow their women at put York on the rowing map at Henley this week.

York's Women's Senior coxed four were in fine form at Henley Women's Regatta and the men were hoping to emulate their performance when the Henley Royal Regatta got underway today.

Racing in the Clubs' Fours, Amanda Lockley, Ros Coke, Kate Flemming and Jenny Irvine with cox Sean Stephenson

rowed reached the quarter-final which was beyond their expectations.

It was the first time a Women's Senior four from the club has progressed that far.

In the first heat, York beat

Edinburgh University by one length. The second round battle against Avon County Rowing Association brought the crowd to their feet as the lead changed hands several times before York took control in the final 100 metres to win by three quarters of a length.

The race was watched by their coach and YCRC club chairman Caroline Sherlock from the umpires's launch.

The quarter-final saw York up against a strong Thames crew, Vesta. York stayed with their opponents all the way down the 1500m course only to submit to a burst of speed from Vesta and to go down by three quarters of a length.

Sherlock said she was proud of their performance, as 38 crews had entered the event with competitors from abroad as well as Great Britain.

Two crews from YCRC have qualified for this week's Henley with a possibility of racing against Olympic gold medallists Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell.

Paul Richardson and Phil Press along with Joe Fricker and Tom Flemming have entered the Silver Goblet Race for coxless pairs with a chance of coming up against the might of the top international duo, but first they have to get through round one.

Updated: 11:38 Wednesday, July 03, 2002