YORK City Rowing Club celebrated their first-ever victory at the world-famous Henley Regatta when their intermediate eight clinched a half-length win over Vesta RC.

The crew of Dominique Stork (cox), Loretta Williams, Cath Smith, Mags Felter, Louisa Carr, Thea Holloway, Amelia Sankey, Lizzie Higgins and Tasha Kefford, clocked a time of five minutes and four seconds over the prestigious 1500 metres course to lift the Challenge Cup for intermediate club eights.

City and Vesta were side by side over the first quarter of the race before the North Yorkshire girls edged into a quarter-length lead by the midway point.

Making their push for the finish early, York then held off Vesta’s challenge for the line.

Earlier, fast starters Reading Boat Club had been seen off in the semi-finals with York pulling away after 250m to enjoy a two-length triumph.

Furnivall Sculling Club, one of the fastest two eights in the time trial, were also overcome by one-and-a-half lengths after York’s bid for glory had begun with a decisive first heat victory over Hollingworth Lake Boat Club.

York’s intermediate club coxed four team of Simon Cocks (cox), Emma Levison, Hazel Jones, Jo Brehaut and Ali Stevens progressed through the time trials but were then eliminated by Tees RC.

There were also three title winners and three runners-up for City over 1,000m at the National Veteran Regatta at Holme Pierrepont in Nottingham.

The women’s Vet ‘C’ intermediate quad of Liz Porte, Karen Williams, Esther Clutton and Ali Stevens took the top prize, as did the Vet ‘B’ novice double of Williams and Clutton.

Anne Homa, meanwhile, in the Vet ‘B’ singles, was only narrowly beaten on her way to securing a silver medal.

The men’s Vet ‘D’ double scull of Alec Gilchrist and Martin Walsh also took silver.

Gilchrist then went one better in his single novice Vet ‘E’ category race while Bob Jones also enjoyed Vet ‘I’ success.