THE York Summer Regatta should go off with a bang tomorrow as a 21-gun salute at Museum Gardens will also take place while racing is suspended at noon.

A total of 150 crews entered for the 38 events the first of which starts at 10am.

Some of the York City Rowing Club's crews will not be taking part as the women's eight, junior double and a sculler will be racing at Henley Women's Regatta.

The ladies eight of Loretta Williams, Philippa Press, Esther Williams, Helen Price, Jenny Irvine, Kate Flemming, Cherry Fricker, Ann Homer, with cox Vicky Newbould, have a tough first round.

They will face the fastest eight in Great Britain, the Thames Rowing Club, who have represented Great Britain.

Single sculler Stephanie Gant will be netering a major regatta for the first time.

She usually rows in eights or double sculls but was not selected so has instead opted to enter the singles event.

She couldn't have picked a more difficult start - she is up against Belgian international Van-Leenputten from Antwerp in the first round.

Junior double sculls Clare Broadbridge and Caroline Jones have a first round tie against Dame Alice Harpers School from Bedford as they bid to reach the final for the second consecutive year.

Their opponents won medals at the schools championships but the York pair have been going well in training and have been working on getting a fast start.

They have a good chance of reaching the final again but their training has been disrupted by school exams.

The Henley Women's Regatta uses the traditional Henley course but uses only 1500 metres instead of the normal 2000.

York City Rowing Club's men's lightweight quad will also be absent from the York Regatta as they will be at Marlow in preparation for qualifiers for Henley Royal Regatta.

The men's first eight split into two fours to win senior two coxless fours and Vet B fours at Loughborough Regatta at the National Rowing Centre in Nottingham last Saturday.

They are taking part at the York Regatta and hope for a good result to lift their confidence in readiness for Henley Royal Regatta.

PICTURE: York City Rowing Club members who will be taking part in the Henley Women's regatta tomorrow. Top left: Women's junior double sculls Clare Broadbridge (left) and Caroline Jones. Bottom left: Women's lightweight single scull Stephanie Gant. Above: Ladies Eight (from left) Loretta Williams, Philippa Press, Esther Williams, Helen Price, Jenny Irvine, Kate Flemming, Cherry Fricker, Ann Homer and cox Vicky Newbould. Pictures by Mike Tipping