UNIVERSITY of York Boat Club excelled in the annual Henley Women’s regatta, where the coxed fours reached the final day of competition.

Two crews were entered by the York club – the coxed four joined by an eight.

The coxed four of Erica Emond (cox), Sarah Robley, Eloisa Cackett, Evelien Rutgers and Anna Lavelle won their time trial to progress to the regatta proper.

In the first heat of the Cathy Cruickshank Trophy for Intermediate Academic fours, the crew beat Kings College, London, by a length and three-quarters in a time of six minutes and 29 seconds for the 1,500 metre course.

They then completed the course five seconds faster to oust a combined Cambridge University four by just three-quarters of a length in the quarter-final.

But their progress was halted on the third day when they were toppled by two lengths by Exeter University in the semi-final.

The eight of Maddi Belsey-Day, Natasha Linyard-Tough, Mary Goodwin, Amy Finch, Alice Duston, Daisy Van Den Berg, Fran Howes, Johanna Child and Francesca Charlton-Jones, missed out on their time trial by eight seconds.

Said women’s squad captain Cackett: “It’s a shame the girls in the eight missed out, but it was a weekend to be proud of. It’s the furthest the University of York women have ever progressed.”

The York club’s men will compete in the Henley Royal regatta this weekend.