Such was the competiton to get into Henley Royal Regatta which started this week, that 14 local crews had to try and qualify.

Only six of these were fast enough, which means that Oxfordshire began the meeting with 15 entries.

Abingdon RC got through the qualifying race for the Thames Cup eights, but were not smiled upon as they drew the selected Commercial from Ireland.

A Balliol and Exeter Colleges composite also qualified and received a kinder draw against Bristol University’s third crew.

Among the women, an Oxford Brookes/Tethys eight reached the regatta proper, while Zofia Novak, a Tethys lightweight, made it in a single.

Isis, the Oxford University men’s squad, qualified their men’s coxed four in the Prince Albert Cup.

Six local crews were deemed worthy of selected status.

Two of these were schoolboys, Radley and Abingdon School, both of whom received the distinction in the Princess Elizabeth eights.

Oxford Brookes, perennial noteworthy performers at Henley, were selected in both the Temple Eights and Prince Albert Fours and will also race in the Visitors Fours, where Isis were the only Oxon selection.

Wallingford had crews in both the Wyfold coxless fours and the Britannia coxed fours, the former being selected.

But the regatta did not start too well for Wallingford when their women’s eight, their visitors four and their young Fawleyquad failed to get past the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Radley gave themselves a Henley boost when they notched up seven wins at Reading Town Regatta last Saturday.

One of Radley’s few defeats came in the novice singles where Andy Bryson, of Abingdon RC, took the trophy.