OXFORDSHIRE’S clubs enjoyed senior success on the London Tideway – but the juniors had plenty to boast about at the Burway Small Boats Head, writes John Wiggins.

The annual Vesta Scullers Head in the capital turned out well for Oxford University women’s coach, Jamie Kirkwood, who topped the times for the elite scullers.

But the overall title eluded him as differing tidal waters over the course of the race gave greater advantage to later starters.

That played into the hands of ‘Freshers’ winners, Richard Hume, of Oxford Brookes, and Wallingford RC’s Christie Duff.

Former St Edward’s pupil and Olympian, Tom Middleton, dominated the Masters B category.

And in the Masters H it was a familiar picture with Tom Bishop winning ahead of Wallingford’s Sean Morris and Charles Parry.

Forsaking the troubled tideway waters for the smoother and consistent Thames stream, Oxfordshire’s scullers enjoyed a prosperous Burway Small Boats Head.

Wallingford’s John Donohue was victorious in the Masters D category, while the younger club members won in the quads.

Their J16 boys (Richard Mangion, James Colam, Edward Devetta and Ben Sumner) and the J15 girls (Bethan Morrison, Anna Grace, Annie Burdess and Freya Sharp, coxed by Liberty Barlow) triumphed.

Hinksey Sculling School showed strength in numbers when winning in quads in both the WJ17 (Poppy Marshall, Jess Foster, Bonnie Coughlan and Alice Vine) and WJ16 (Harriet Wilson, Mae Willoughby, Helene Rittscher and Jojo Blyth).

Blyth also tasted success in the novice single.

It turned out to be a good day for Andrew Clark, who claimed wins in the J17 double, with Rafe Stanford-Meisl, and J1 single.

There were also victories for William Wakefield (J18) and Stanley Cannons (senior IM3).

City of Oxford triumphed in the quad (Tilly Elliston, Ellen Grainger, Evie Tinegate, Abi Taylor and cox, Kathryn Grainger), while Robert McRae took the single.

Becky Coleman and Ellie Stubley won the senior IM3 double sculls.

St Edward’s School found themselves unopposed in their women’s quad, but still completed the course as the fastest female boat.

Teddie sculler Saskia Ward triumphed in the J15 singles.