Reunion for York City Rowing Club legends (From York Press)

Reunion for York City Rowing Club legends

9:12am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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ONE of York City Rowing Club’s finest hours was relived during a 40th anniversary reunion.

A York crew won their division at the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race in 1970 for the first time in the club’s history.

The women were racing in a borrowed wooden “clinker” boat from the University of London, while today all the crews row lightweight carbon fibre boats with lighter oars. The victorious York team was Kathy Birch, Christine Bainbridge, Maggie Evans, Sylvia Harvey, Ann Bainbridge, Denise Laycock, Denise Donavan, Bertha Sivyer and Judy Wilde (cox).

The reserve oarswoman was Alicja Krawiec and the crew were coached by Dave Wilde.

The crew have held a reunion each year and this year members converged on York from Southampton, London and Leeds as well as around York. Unfortunately, the club’s class of 2010 – who won at Henley Women’s Regatta last summer – were unable to match that feat as they finished 31st out of 300 crews in the same race at the weekend.

The 2010 York crew included Loretta Williams (stroke), Cath Smith, Mags Felter, Amelia Sankey, Jess Fitzpatrick, Vicky Johnston, Lizzie Higgins, Tasha Kefford (bow) and Dominique Stork (cox).

• Don’t miss The Press tomorrow for a report and pictures from the Yorkshire Head on the River Ouse.