YORK City Rowing Club girls’ quadruple scull won their first ever medal at the National Schools Regatta when they came away with a bronze at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham.

The quartet of Becky O’Keefe, Sophie Heldt, Charlotte Holford and Sally Downing were the ones to watch as they produced one of the fastest times on the water.

In the final, they raced alongside the much fancied crews of Henley RC, St Neots and Warrington RC and came out of the blocks quickly to take an early lead.

Henley overtook York before half way and then St Neots moved ahead of the girls as they were nearing the finish line.

However, a strong finish meant that the York crew broke their medal duck at the event.

The York J16 double scull of Alex Bruce and Will King, who won gold for Yorkshire earlier in the season, rowed exceptionally well but just missed out on a medal, finishing fourth.

At half-way, only two boat lengths separated second and fourth places but, despite all their efforts, the York boys were unable to close the gap.

All four junior scullers - Eddie Hunter (Championship), Jess Downing (Women’s Championship), Sally Downing (Women’s J17) and Sophie Heldt (Women’s J15) all made the semi-finals in their events in the largest regatta in Great Britain.

Phil Press, one of the York junior coaches, said: “Overall these are a good set of results, though perhaps less than we all hoped for. There is no doubt that these youngsters are racing and training well and they expect to be competing for honours at Women’s Henley Regatta and at the National Junior Championships later in the summer.”