ONE of the most successful regattas in York City Rowing Club's recent history was held on the Ouse on Saturday, with a record entry from the midlands to the north.

More than 230 crews entered but this had to be reduced to 180 because of time constraints.

With races every three minutes from 9.15am to the final event at 7pm. All the races ran to time and this was acredit to all the competing crews getting boated and to the start on time.

Although the entries were dominated by junior and novice crews, spectators were entertained to some exciting races with most ending in a verdict of just a few feet.

York City Rowing Club and St Peter's School Boat Club shared in the spoils of victory.

The York City crews won six events. Freya Porteous (stroke), Jenny Addison, Sarah Barker and Morven Porteous (bow) won the women's junior 18 coxless quad sculls beating Chester-le-Street by two lengths.

In the women's senior two double sculls, Caroline Jones and Charlotte Richer dominated their event with a mature race to beat Ancholme in the final.

Jones and Richer then went on to win the women's senior four single sculls and the women's novice sculls respectively.

Not to be outdone by the girls, the men's senior sculler won two events. Ex-Leander sculler Ed Beddingfield, now rowing in York's colours, won the senior two single sculls, while Rob Drever-Smith won the men's novice sculls after battling his was through three heats before reaching the final.

The club's crews were also runners-up in men's senior four fours, novice double sculls and women's junior 16 double sculls.

St Peter's put up one of their best performances in the eights for some years by winning the junior 16 eights in an aggressive performance to beat a strong Yarm School crew.

In the women's senior coxed fours, the girls from the school gave a good account of themselves with a well-drilled row to beat Whitby Friendship Rowing Club easily.

Updated: 12:29 Wednesday, May 08, 2002