SEVEN triumphs headed the treasure trove plundered by York City Rowing Club when it opened its winter campaign at the Stourport Winter Head of the River race.

Competing against crews from all over the United Kingdom, the York men's and women's squads were in tremendous form over the 4,500-metre time-trial on the River Severn.

Despite freezing conditions the club won open S2 eights, open S4 eights, women's S2 eights and women's S1 eights.

The women's S2 eight was the fastest ladies crew on the water by eight seconds, while the men's S2 eight was the fastest crew of the day.

In the smaller boat classes, Dave Grabaskey and Dick Gradley won the open veteran E/F double sculls handicap event by a clear margin.

Richard Smalman-Smith showed he had what it takes by winning the open S1 sculls by three seconds.

Men's captain Dave Heffernan led by example when winning the Open S2 single scull event by a full minute.

The club also despatched a small squad of rowers and scullers to Turin to compete in the Campionato Italiano Gran Fondo D'Inverno Sul Po 2005.

This event is attended by top-class Italian rowing clubs and attracts national and international standard crews.

The YCRC squad, organised by Nick Price consisted of James Blissett, Joe Lyons, Sean Potter, Ian Hazel and Pete Jago. The mini-squad competed in six different classes of crew, ranging from open quad sculls to coxless pairs, doubles and singles.

Everyone performed extremely well and it is hoped to send another team to Italy in November to tackle the silver sculls event over a huge 12,000m course.

The next rowing events the club is scheduled to attend are the Tyne Head of the River on Saturday, February 19 followed the next day by the Nottingham Head of the Trent race.

The next 'home' event will be the Yorkshire Head of the River Race on Saturday, March 5.

This race takes place on a timed 5000m downstream course from Poppleton to Lendal Bridge in the centre of York.

The YCRC is to hold 'Learn to Row' courses for adult beginners on April 5, May 17, June 28 and August 9.

Each course is six weeks long and sessions are twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Anyone wishing to take up the chance to learn to row and receive coaching from ARA qualified coaches should visit the club's website at www.york-city-rowing-club.co.uk

Updated: 09:52 Thursday, February 17, 2005