OXFORD Brookes struck a blow for the city when they defeated Cambridge University on Sunday in the first of a series of fixtures ahead of the 2017 Boat Races, writes John Wiggins.

Brookes landed the spoils by two lengths, racing in two stages over the full Boat Race course, pausing at the Chiswick Eyot.

The burgundy and navy blues of Brookes were behind for only a few minutes around the Hammersmith bend before they set up a fantastic charge in the last minute of the first stage to finish level with the Light Blues, who included two of last year’s winning crew.

In the second race from the Eyot to the finish, Brookes took control.

Their eight contained cox Harry Brightmore, who gave his Cambridge counterpart and the umpire a lot to do with some assertive steering.

Their stern pair of James Stanhope and Henry Swarbrick were backed up by Morgan Bolding, Michael Glover, Rory Gibbs, Matthew Aldridge, Robbie Massey and Jamie Copus.

The previous day, the London Tideway staged the Quintin Head, raced on a flood tide from Hammersmith up through Chiswick Bridge.

Radley College were second behind Westminster School in both the J18 and J16 eights, by 12 and fours seconds respectively over 4,800m.

The Oxford University lightweights finished just ahead of Radley when third in the IM1 category.

Meanwhile, in Cardiff, scullers from Wallingford, Abingdon, Falcon and City of Oxford clubs sought success at the Head of the Taff.

City’s Mary Murray and Naomi Sharma were outright fastest women’s double in addition to being the top masters combination.

Sharma was also first in the masters C single.

Abingdon’s sole success came from Paul Godsafe, the quickest masters single sculler over the 3,200m course.