A SUCCESSFUL rowing crew came together for the final time last night to accept the plaudits of pupils and staff at their old school.

Six members of the eight crew from Durham High School for Girls are about to begin higher education courses at universities. But they made a final visit to the school, in Farewell Hall, Durham, for the prize-giving presentation.

Jessie Dyson, Elizabeth Ledger, Verity Cockburn, Helen Forster, Naomi Riddick and captain Jane Applegarth, all members of the school's upper sixth in the last academic year, were joined by their lower sixth form crew members, Amy Skinner, Susannah Easton and coxswain Elizabeth Maber.

They were presented with medals and the Vaux Trophy, which they won at Durham Regatta, in June. Despite being the youngest crew in their category, the girls beat off competition from college and university opposition to win the Novice Eights event.

Jane, 18, said credit must go to the crew's coach, James Stephenson, a Durham University student.