WALLINGFORD RC celebrated the fruits of their labours in tireless fund-raising with the naming of new boats, writes John Wiggins.

The club have splashed out on six boats which they formally named at a ceremony attended by their new president and former town mayor, Ken Lester and the current mayor, his wife, Ros.

Also present were the chair of South Oxfordshire District Council Paul Harrison and Wallingford councillor Imran Lokhon in recognition of the most recent grant of £20,000 from SODC.

‘Carl Purchase II’ was christened by Ken Lester recalling the legendary former club captain and member of the 1972 crew, who achieved the club’s first win at Henley.

They named the quad scull ‘Winterbrook’ and the single scull ‘Portcullis’ – the town’s emblem.

The contribution from the club bar was appreciated with a pair, named ‘Raise the Bar’.

Club personalities were also recognised. A single scull was christened by Helen Dawe with her junior rowing daughter, Poppy in memory of her late husband, ‘Angus Dawe’.

The club honoured Gus Gray, who for more than 30 years coxed the veterans and coached juniors before his death in 2014, naming the new eight after him.

The new eight was christened by his son Andy.

l There was success for Oxfordshire crews at theWorcester Spring Regatta.

Oxford Academicals reached six finals with victory for both coxed fours in novice and novice Masters A categories.

The Dragon School, Oxford, recorded only one win – for Charlie Rosen in the J13 single – from their three finals.

A few days before the Oxford University Summer Eights get under way, few Oxford colleges made the journey, but Hertford College are glad they did with a confidence-boosting win in the WIM3 eights.

City of Oxford won through the senior men’s pair of Malcolm Nisbet and Pete Kerswell-Jensen.

At the Walton and Weybridge Ladies Regatta, the Falcon Masters D squad enjoyed victories in the quad and double scull.

l Only a few days before the second World Cup Regatta at Lucerne, the Great Britain team has had a shake-up due to illness affecting three of the men’s squad – Constantine Louloudis in the four, Peter Reed in the eight and Stewart Innes in the pair.

Innes’s partner Alan Sinclair replaces Reed while Henley-based, Callum McBriety, 23, gets a big break sitting in for Louloudis.

All other crews remain unchanged.