OXFORD Brookes University continued to break records, when achieving a one-two-three finish at the Ghent International Regatta, writes John Wiggins.

In winning the top men’s eights event, the Brookes eight not only set a course record of 5mins 35secs for the 2000m, but broke their own best time.

They did so ahead of their second and third eights, who filled the next two positions in what was a high-quality field, which included the Leander Club.

Brookes women also showed depth with first and third places in their eights race.

Wallingford RC were also in the medals with victory on both days for Mary Wilson in the women’s single, chased home by clubmate Louise Bowyer with bronze on Saturday and silver on Sunday.

At full international level, a new-look British senior team raced in Belgrade at the first of the World Cup series.

Due to retirements and injuries, Oxfordshire’s participation was wholly reliant on former Brookes students helping along the medal tally.

Of the 11 medals they won, four were gold which included the top men’s four with Matthew Tarrant and Peter Chambers in the lightweight double.

Joel Cassells contributed with bronze in the lightweight pair.

The junior GB rowing team were trying out crew combinations at the Munich Junior International Regatta where Radley College’s Archie McChesney raced in a gold medal-winning eight.

l Abingdon School and Radley College enjoyed many tussles at the Bedford Regatta, both coming away with victories.

Radley won three of their five finals – open 2, novice and J16 eights. Abingdon gained one title, the prestigious open 1 eights which they achieved in the final by the narrowest of margins, ‘one foot’, beating Oriel College, Oxford.

Oriel had the consolation of defeating St Catherine’s in the final of the men’s college eights while Green Templeton won an all-Oxford final beating University College in the women’s event.

l City of Oxford RC's ladies' development squad achieved their dream by winning their novice category at Shrewsbury Regatta, where they beat local opposition, Ironbridge RC over the 600m sprint course on Sunday.

Their coach Jon Miles, said “What a great result. The crew joined our beginners’ courses in June and September of last year, which is why I’m so pleased they won at the weekend. They have all put in a lot of effort during our mid-week and weekend outings over the last few weeks and this win is testament to their hard work.”