LOCAL rowers were out in force over the weekend, but found success hard to come by, writes John Wiggins.

Flying the flag in Linz, Austria at the second of the three World Cup Regattas, four Oxfordshire stars came home with silver.

Oxford Brookes University’s Matt Tarrant and former Radley College pupils Oli Wynne-Griffiths and Tom George produced a solid performance to finish behind Germany in the Great Britain’s men’s eight crew.

Former Headington School pupil Fiona Gammond was part of the women’s four who also claimed second.

There was, however, no such luck for the other locals taking part.

Former Abingdon schoolboys, Oli Cooke and Matt Rossiter came fifth in the pairs, while George Rossiter filled the same position in the fours.

The other men’s pair, with Oxford Blue, Josh Bugajski, won the D final.

Wallingford’s Ellie Piggott, sculling with a last-minute crew change, was second in the lightweight double B final, with clubmate Gemma Hall’s boat finishing fourth in the same race.

Another B finalist was the Abingdon and Brookes sculler Jamie Copus who was fourth in the lightweight double.

At the Henley Women’s Regatta, former Headington School pupil Danielle Semple won the lightweight women's double along with fellow Exeter University student Susie Duncan in record time.

The current Headington School crews featured in four semi-finals but could not progress.

City of Oxford’s junior double of Becky Coleman and Georgie Cherry had an outstanding regatta but ultimately lost in their final.

The one title came for Oxford Brookes’ Academic Eight of Liz Haskins, Cesca Molyneux, Emily Paul, Esme Booth, Jo Gannon, Ella Morgan, Aly Vogelzang, Maddy Dobson and Aisling Humphries-Griffiths (cox).

Marlow Regatta, held on Eton’s Dorney Lake, provided the last major opportunity for many crews to impress the Henley Royal Regatta selection committee to avoid qualifying races this week.

Sadly, the win for Wallingford in the Tier 2 coxed fours was not enough and they must contest the time trial for the Britannia Cup.

Former international, Charles Cousins, in the Abingdon School alumni colours of Griffen BC, won the championship singles and has done enough to pre-qualify for the Diamond Challenge Sculls.

Radley College and St Edward’s School eights posted quick times in their build-up to the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup, but have a bit to find with hot favourites St Paul’s.

Second place in the club eights was enough for City of Oxford’s men to pre-qualify for the Thames Cup.

The competitive Thames Valley Park Regatta in Reading saw Wallingford reach four finals.

While ambition remained unfulfilled for the boys J15 quad and J17 single and the girls J16 single, victory came for Richard Mangion and Ben Sumner in the J16 double sculls.