YORK City Rowing Club's Veteran A' class women's crew pulled off a fantastic victory at the Head of the River Race on the Thames in London.

Rowed between Mortlake and Putney - the reverse route of the Varsity Boat Race - they became what is thought to be the first northern crew to win the pennant.

A strong tail-wind saw York overtake a visiting Italian men's Veteran E' class boat within the first 20 strokes of the start.

Pushing past Chiswick, York then passed another two men's crews and a fourth was passed 500 metres from the finish.

York's main opposition, Oxford Academicals Women's Veteran A' crew, were soon left behind and the City crew of Kat Crawford (cox), Nollaig Browne (stroke), Esther Williams, Helen Banks, Ruth Easterbrook, Amanda Baker, Karen Willams, Cath Smith and Stephanie Hazel-Gant (bow) took the spoils.

York City also played a part in the fastest women's crew of the day, a Composit Veteran C' class which was coxed by the club's Helena Smalman Smith.

A total of 420 crews took part in two days of action, with the first day spoilt by high winds which saw several boats swamped and a few sunk, leading to cancellation of races.

Of the 45 crews who managed to start the men's veteran's race, only 29 finished.

The two York City crews managed to row back to their landing stage safely but were extremely wet.

York's Spring Regatta will be held on Saturday, May 5.