LOCAL crews contested strongly but with little to show for their efforts in the Tideway Pairs Head of the River, writes John Wiggins.

The meeting was at risk of cancellation due to the bad weather, but after getting the go-ahead, Falcon RC’s Susie Holmes Smith and Lil Cochrane fared best of the Oxfordshire competitors, finishing second in the masters E double championship category.

Lukas Koch and Samuel Picard of Merton College contested the lightweight championship doubles and were rewarded with third place and 30th overall.

Also finishing third in their events were two crews from Abingdon RC – husband and wife Tim and Karen Baker in the mixed masters E double along with Gerard Simmonds and Chris Thomson in the masters D pair.

Abingdon’s other two boats were in the masters F pairs and the open mixed doubles – both finishing fourth.

Wallingford RC had three women’s boats racing, the highest finish coming for third placed Kat Butler and Leigh Bard in the Club doubles.