YORK City Rowing Club pair Caroline Jones and Clare Broadbridge just missed out on victory once again in the Henley Women's Regatta.

It was one of a several good performances by York rowers over the weekend, with the men's triumphing in a couple of events at the York Summer Regatta.

Representing York in the junior double scull at Henley, Jones and Broadbridge repeated last year's feat of reaching the final only to be beaten by a more experienced crew.

Sculling over the 1500 metre course over two days, the girls eliminated Dame Alice Harpur's School from Bedford and Henley Rowing Club on Saturday to reach the semi-finals the following day.

Although Broadbridge suffered a mild attack of food poisoning they managed to beat King's School, Canterbury, by three lengths.

In the final they met King's Hospital School, from Ireland, and were beaten by three and a half lengths.

York women's first eight were unlucky to meet Britain's top women's eight from Thames Rowing Club in the first round. The Thames team never looked back after going ahead in the early part of the race.

Loretta Williams, Philippa Press, Esther Williams, Helen Price, Jenny Irvine, Kate Flemming, Cherry Fricker, Ann Homer, with cox Vicky Newbould, made up the women's eight.

Single sculler Steph Gant also met stiff opposition in the form of a Belgian international.

"Although I was well beaten, it was a wonderful experience and atmosphere," said Gant, who was taking part in the event in a major regatta for the first time.

Closer to home, there was success too in the York Summer Regatta.

The York men's Senior 2 eight won their event in a demonstration of speed and strength which delighted coach Andrew Caywood.

An added bonus was that the crew have gone through to the first round at Henley Royal Regatta without having to qualify. A Senior 2 four from the eight also won their event.

The eight crew were Rob Tyler, Gordon Dalgleish, Alan Thompson, Stuart Clarke, Pete White, Dan Clarke, Chris Jones, Mick Homa, cox Penny Whiting.

The coxed four crew were Dan Clarke, Stuart Clarke, Chris Jones, Mick Homa, cox Penny Whiting.

Success also came for Phil Stanley who won the novice sculls in confident style. Coach and club chairman Caroline Sherlock said: "Putting Phil in the club's new sculling boat gave him the edge."

The only women's success came from Freya Porteous, who dominated the Junior 14 single sculls with a powerful display.

Her sister Morven and Lydia Beilby were narrowly beaten in the final of the women's Junior 18 double sculls by Cambois Rowing Club.

picture- MAKING A SPLASH: The spray flies as the York University novice women's four (above) battle for a win during the Novice Women's Coxed Fours at the York Regatta.They are (from left) Holly Cartlidge, Lucy Batchelor, Mary Buxton and Anna Layard-Liesching.