MATTHEW Tarrant, of Oxford Brookes University, set the tone for a summer of British rowing by winning a gold medal at the opening World Cup in Varese, Italy, writes John Wiggins.

Such is the depth of talent in the GB squad that there is insufficient space for Tarrant and his pairs partner, Nathaniel Reilly-O’Donnell, both world champions of the last two years, in the team selected to compete at the European Championships next month.

While the rest of the team were at a training camp in Germany, the pair comfortably moved through the heat and semi-final.

In the A final, they took the lead after halfway and then repelled all attacks from the Dutch European champions to win by two seconds.

Also at the event representing GB was former Abingdon School pupil, Oli Cook who, in the same event, was third in the B final.

Wallingford RC’s Ellie Piggott, in a new double combination with Emily Craig, is also just outside the Olympic team, but was racing against many who will be representing their nations in Rio.

They led from the start of their B final but had to settle for third.

Back home, more Wallingford ladies were defending their Head of the River status in coxed fours at the Oxford City Bumps racing 1800m, four times up the River Isis.

The crew of Tori Bellamy, Kat Butler, Alison Boyes and Libby Johnston, coxed by City of Oxford’s Betsy Jones, held off challenges from City of Oxford and several Oxford colleges.

The men’s headship was retained by hosts, City of Oxford (Harry Robinson, Rupert Pye-Watson, Matt Jones, Henry Drohan and cox Alissa Bray).

l City of Oxford celebrated the christening of three new boats at the weekend.

The double scull for the junior squad is named in appreciation of the dedication of their coach, Mark Richards and his faithful dog ‘Charlie’, who is with him come rain or shine and whose name is given to the boat.

The club have honoured Andrea Dennis with the naming of a double scull for the women’s squad.

For the adaptive rowing group, a single scull was named ‘David Fisher’ in appreciation of the time and energy he has given to the group since leading the merger with City of Oxford almost four years ago.