YORK City Rowing Club grabbed a hat-trick of golds at the British Masters Championships.

Anne Homa clinched the Women's Vet D single scull title at Nottingham's Holme Pierrepoint National Watersports Centre and the men's E4+ team of Hugh Danwick, Michael Porte, Martin Walsh, Neil Paveley and cox Maisie Swindells also made the winners' rostrum.

Competing with the women’s D4+ team, Homa went on to secure a second goal, joining Lucy Roberts, Philippa Press, Karen Williams and cox Ali Gray to cross the line first again.

In her individual event, Homa took a clear lead in the first half of her qualifying heat, but was pushed to the line by the Cambridge sculler Cecile Jackson.

Homa held her nerve, though, to win and give herself a good draw in the final.

In the final, Middlesbrough's Angela Warburton stayed in close attendance, as the two northern scullers left the rest of the field trailing behind.

But, despite being pushed hard all the way, Homa stayed in front throughout the race and secured victory by a mere 3.22 seconds.

Margit Rezacova, meanwhile, picked up a bronze in the women’s Vet A single race.

One of the most hotly-contested events of the championship then saw Dawick, Porte, Walsh, Paveley and Swindells take no chances by winning their heat easily with only first-placed finishers and the three fastest losers going through to the final.

The subsequent competition was truly fierce in the final, with York taking an early lead, but the Chester-based Grosvenor Rowing Club and Upper Thames (Henley) crews fought back.

York held their nerve, though, to win a close race, as less than ten seconds separated all six boats.

Not to be outdone by the men, Homa, Roberts, Press, Williams and Gray took an early lead in their final and built on it, beating the other three crews by more than seven seconds.

Commenting on the York's newly-crowned national champions, club captain Pat Evans said: “It’s been a great weekend of racing. The competition is so tough and we have put in some great performances.

"I’m delighted that the club has come away with three gold medals and it’s a fabulous result."