St Edward’s School BC, Oxford, had four wins at the Reading Small Boats Head, writes Mike Rosewell.

One of these came in the Masters E (55-60 category) where John Wiggins, former Oxford Blue and ‘Teddies’ supremo since 1999, took the singles trophy and was the second fastest veteran of the day.

Wiggins retired from his coaching position after last summer’s eight won medals at the National Schools and broke the course record at Henley behind their neighbours Abingdon.

Three members of that Henley final eight were racing in a winning senior quad at Reading and were second overall in the 427 boat flotilla.

Clearly Wiggins is not going to abandon the river. His supremo position will be taken over by Peter Rudge and the first eight will remain under Jonnie Singfield’s coaching.

The girls from Headington School achieved a remarkable number of ten wins at Reading.

The event was again run in three divisions to accommodate 111 classes, which led to some multiple wins.

Not least of these came from Headington, who had a huge entry in many events, illustrated by a remarkable seven crews in the women’s J13 quads.

A number of other local clubs had their fingers in the winning pie last Saturday.

Wallingford had two wins and Abingdon RC, Radley, and City of Oxford recorded one apiece.

Other leading Oxfordshire finishers in the overall order were Radley’s winning J18 coxed four in fourth, and two Wallingford J16 quads in 11th and 14th, with only five seconds between them.