York City Rowing Club crews won six events at the South Yorkshire Head of the River race on the River Don at Doncaster.

The start of the first division was delayed by one hour because of commercial barges on the course.

Nonetheless, the men's quad of Ian Hazel, Rob Drever-Smith, George Scott and Ed Beddingfield, racing over the three-mile course, beat off a strong Nottingham Union crew to take the senior one medal in a time of 12 minutes and 13 seconds.

In women's senior four double sculls, Morven Porteous and Sarah Barker won in 15mins 17secs, while Sarah Whitwell and Jessica Knowles won the women's junior 15 double sculls in 15-44 and look a good combination for the summer regattas.

Women's single sculler Charlotte Richer collided with a four and capsized as she set off from the landing stage. Undaunted, she quickly changed into dry kit and went on to win women's junior 16 single sculls in 16-36.

Earlier, she steered the women's junior 16 quad, who completed the course in 14-22 to make them the fastest women's four of the day. However, they were the only entry in their category and so had to be satisfied with a row over.

The women's junior 15 coxed quad also rowed over the course without competition in 15-30. Two women's junior 18 double sculls came second and third in 15-34.

Joe Lyon sculled his best race of the season so far by winning men's junior 16 single sculls in 16-00. Dick Gradley sculled well to win men's veteran H handicapped sculls in 17-59.

The women's eight were disappointed to lose their event to Nottingham Union by four seconds after getting into a tangle with an eight they were overtaking half way down the course.

The performances were particularly pleasing as crews have not been able to train on the swollen Ouse at York for three weeks.

Caroline Jones put up her best performance so far in her quest for selection to the junior Great Britain squad, coming seventh out of 42 trialists at Boston, Lincolnshire.

She now moves onto the next stage in the selection programme which takes place in a few weeks.

Updated: 12:46 Friday, February 22, 2002