York City Rowing Club's latest boat has been given the civic seal of approval by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Janet Greenwood, a former oarswoman.

She was a member of the club in the 1960s when women were not allowed to be full members of the club or wear the full club strip when racing.

She returned to the club to conduct the naming ceremony for the women's eight boat Albunea, who was the Roman goddess of the river.

Coun Greenwood met women's captain and eights' stroke Ruth Easterbrook and her crew - Liz Chaytor, Esther Williams, Freya Porteous, Becky Harland, Rachael Furnell, Emily Hulley, Amanda Baker and cox Joe Foss, who are preparing to race at Henley Regatta.

Club captain Gill Porteous said: "We were delighted that The Lord Mayor found time to return to the club very early in her year of office to perform this ceremony for us. It reflects the growing importance of women's rowing in British sport and at York City Rowing Club."

York entered four women's crews at the Bedford Regatta, the largest provincial event in the country with 150 coxed fours and eights.

The S3 eight were one length ahead when they had a steering problem which saw them disqualified for taking the opposition's water. The S4 eight was a mix of senior oarswomen and novices, who rowed well but without success.

The S2 eight were beaten by a strong crew from Thames Rowing Club, who went on to the final and beat Sons of The Thames Rowing Club by seven lengths. A York S2 four gained a place in the semi-finals.

York won the Victor Ludorum for the club with most wins during the Bradford Regatta when the club achieved 11 victories.

The successes were - S4 coxed fours crew: Simon Woodfine, Jo Lyons, Rob Johnson, Steve Lawrence, coxed by Ian Hazel; Veteran double sculls: Colin Jones and Nick Price; Novice single sculls: Jack Longfield; Women's novice double sculls: Zo Ditch and Sarah Chase; women's novice single sculls: Dawn Richmond Gordon; women's junior 18 double sculls: Sarah Pitcher and Danielle Lewis; women's junior 16 double sculls: Sarah Pitcher and Danielle Lewis; women's junior 16 single sculls: Sarah Pitcher; women's junior 14 coxed quad sculls: Louisa Hood, Holly Allan, Philippa Gray, Iona Harrap, coxed by Zo Ditch; women's junior 14 double sculls: Louisa Hood and Holly Allan; junior 13 double sculls: James Reeder and Owen Harrison.

For the juniors this was their second regatta within four days as they also raced at the Ball Cup Regatta at Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club.

The 18 double scull of Chase and Ditch and 16 single sculler Lewis won while the 14 double scull lost by two feet and the girls' 16 Quad scull lost by half a length.

YCRC stage their Summer Regatta on Sunday, June 19, on the Ouse.

Updated: 10:26 Friday, May 27, 2005