AFTER a year of operations and rehabilitation, Olympic champion Pete Reed and silver medallist Zoe Lee – both Oxford Blues – were back in action at the first of the Great Britain senior long distance trials, writes John Wiggins.

While Reed, who finished 33rd, described the experience as “not much fun, but realistic at the moment”, Lee was very pleased, saying: “It’s good to be back.”

She came the top of the table in the 2000m test on the rowing machine and over 5km in a single scull.

This initial trials event, exempting those racing at the World Championships, saw other Oxford Blues in action.

These included Ruth Siddorn, who was third behind Lee in the single, and Josh Bugajski, who came third in the men’s event.

Though yet to compete in the Boat Race and hence racing under the Isis BC name, Tobias Schroder and Felix Drinkall were most impressive in winning the men’s pairs.

Another Blue, Vassilis Ragoussis, combined with new OUBC president, Iain Mandale, to finish ninth

Oxford Brookes pairs Rory Gibbs & Morgan Bolding and Matthew Aldridge & Henry Swarbrick were fifth and seventh respectively.

Another Brookes student Ben Reeves was third in the lightweight men’s single.

Wallingford RC’s Mary Wilson was fourth in the lightweight single.

l There were wins for Wallingford RC at the Henley Sculls.

Charles Parry took the H category singles, while Emily Booker was first in the open B and 2 women’s single, as well as second in the Masters C event.

Abingdon’s Karen Baker claimed victory in the Masters D single (with Wallingford third and Falcon RC fourth), while husband, Tim, came second in the older F category.

Abingdon’s Dennis Engelke was fastest in the Masters A single and Stephanie Hall, from Wadham College, was the fastest in the B and 1 singles.

Radley College raced in quads and singles, with the best result for Archie McChesney, second in the J18 event with Hinksey Sculling School fourth.