York City Rowing Club finished tops as 18 crews and scullers gained trophies while three of their boats finished in the top ten of races in the York Small Boats Head meeting on the River Ouse.

Overall, YCRC had 14 wins in the sculling discipline and four rowing successes, while city rivals St Peter's School recorded six wins, as did St Leonard's School, Durham.

More than 300 crews and scullers competed over the 3,000 metres course from Fulford to King's Staith in three timed races in the event sponsored by Nick Price.

With the river running slowly for the time of year, and with little wind, times were fast as they raced upstream. The winning quadruple scull from York City recorded the second fastest time ever for the event.

The men's elite quadruple scullers Dan Beaumont, Paul Richardson, Vincent Caudrelier and Dave Heffernan had a comfortable 11-second cushion over their nearest rivals from Peterborough. Heffernan, the retiring men's captain, and Irish lightweight trialist was also the fastest single sculler of the day.

The YCRC women's quad of Ruth Easterbrook, Ann Homa, Helen Banks and Nollaig Browne won the women's event by an even larger margin, while Browne went on to win the senior 3 singles category.

The men's senior class 2 four of Joel Lancaster, Will Todd, Gavin Morris and Tim Andrews, coxed by Joe Foss, were the fastest coxed four, beating their nearest rivals from Sheffield by 11 seconds. This followed their win in the same event at Kingston-on-Thames in the previous outing. Lancaster and Todd also won the Senior 2 coxless pairs.

York's women's senior 3 coxed four of Esther Williams, Louise Calver, Rebecca Raines and Elizabeth Chaytor, coxed by Katrina Crawford, won, having come second in the same category at the Fours Head in London.

Chaytor and Williams also succeeded in winning the novice double sculls, while Raines went on to win the senior 3 category with Cath Smith.

The junior under-15 quad of Owen Harrison, James Reeder, Chris Wright, Robert McKenzie and cox Alice Hood beat St Peter's by 15 seconds. Wright and McKenzie later took the U15 double sculls event.

The junior girls quad of Louisa Hood, Harriet Hobbs, Leah Ward, Iona Harrap, also coxed by Alice Hood, won the women's novice event.

There was success to for the event's sponsor, Nick Price. He won the veteran 'C' sculls, while YCRC members Richard Smalman-Smith and Jamie Macleod took the 'B' and 'D' single sculling categories respectively.

Women's senior 4 single sculls was won by Emily Hulley, and women junior sculls by Dawn Richmond-Gordon.

Leeds University, who train on the Ouse, recorded two wins.

Crews will now be training for the 5000m long races in the spring, with coaches hoping that river conditions will allow their crews to get out throughout the winter.

There will be courses for new starters at YCRC in the spring. See www.york-city-rowing-club.co.uk for details in the new year.

Updated: 11:04 Wednesday, November 23, 2005