YORK City Rowing Club's Loretta Williams has been handed the job of improving junior rowing around North Yorkshire and Humberside.

Appointed by the Amateur Rowing Association as the coaching and development officer (Eastern team) for the region, she will be responsible for coaching education, introducing rowing to schools, and boosting the junior sections of clubs in the area.

Meanwhile, the York crews' hopes of racing at Newark this weekend have been dashed as the meet has been cancelled for the second time in three weeks because of adverse river conditions on the Trent.

Even at home, practice sessions have been hit by the weather, with Senior crews having to row on canals in West Yorkshire to catch up on much-needed water training.

Practice on the Ouse has been curtailed because of prolonged flood conditions, the lower towpath having been visible for only two days over the past six to eight weeks.

These followed the cancellation twice in November of York's own 'Head of the River', with only senior crews allowed to race in the swift conditions when the meet was eventually rowed in December after the river level dropped.

However, levels on the Ouse at York are beginning to drop, much to the relief of coaches and members of the club.