MASTERS crews from York City Rowing Club are celebrating success at the Henley Masters Regatta (HMR).

Established in 1994, the HMR takes place a week after Henley's Royal Regatta on the River Thames.

Hosted and run by Upper Thames Rowing Club, it has grown into an internationally recognised event for masters crews and attracts competitors from all over the world.

Hugh Dawick, Michael Porte, Martin Walsh, Neil Paveley and cox Maisie Swindells teamed-up to beat Greenbank Falmouth Rowing Club in the final of the Men’s Vet E coxed fours.

They had beaten Grosvenor RC in the quarterfinal and, in the semifinal, Molesey Boat Club whose line-up included two bronze medallists from the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Dawick, stroke man of the crew, said: "We can’t quite believe it. We had three very tough races against high quality crews and we are very proud to have won at Henley Masters on behalf of York City Rowing Club (YCRC).

"We have had so much help and support from so many people in the club for which we are very grateful," he added. "In particular, our wonderful coach Liz Porte without whom this would never have happened."

The crew is now in training for the World Rowing Masters Regatta which takes place in Slovenia in September.

Philippa Press and Karen Williams, meanwhile, recorded an impressive five lengths victory over Toowong Rowing Club from Australia in the Women’s Vet E pair.

"It’s the first time we have raced at Henley Masters so we are delighted to have come away with such a great win," said Press. "They took us off the start but we held our nerve and drew level with them. That put pressure on them, we pushed to get ahead, and then we just built our lead up."

The Masters victories came just over a week after an eight-man crew from YCRC reached the second round of the Thames Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta.

Anyone interested in joining York City Rowing Club is invited to attend a taster session on Saturday August 5. For more details visit www.ycrc.co.uk