HEADINGTON School continue to dominate British junior women’s rowing with a record-breaking performance at the Women’s Eights Head of the River, writes John Wiggins,

British rowing celebrated International Women’s day with around 3,000 competitors in an event which has been going since the 1930s with Olympians, juniors and novices competing on even terms.

Finishing 13th overall, Headington not only regained the school/junior title they narrowly lost last year to an Italian crew, but in so doing broke their own course record set in 2013.

The crew of Katie King-Smith, Elizabeth Haskins, Rosanna Little, Lucy Pullinger, Matilda Burn, Isabel Rundle, Frances Curtis, Danielle Semple and cox, Annelise Perkins, finished six seconds clear in a time of 19mins 15.9 secs.

While not occupying their highest ever finish, Oxford Brookes’ three crews collectively put in their best performance to date, coming sixth, 16th and 53rd.

Wallingford RC produced the fastest of the Masters boats with their younger A category boat, coxed by Olympian Zoe de Toledo, coming half a second ahead of City of Oxford’s 24th placed boat.

This was City’s best result since a top-20 place in 2011.

Wallingford’s Masters C crew suffered a time penalty, finishing second in their category to a composite crew.

Green Templeton College gained a top-50 finish, five seconds ahead of Oxford University lightweight women.

Headington B and Brookes C were immediately behind them.