Isis and Oxford Brookes fared best of the local clubs, winning the Visitors coxless fours and the Prince Albert coxed fours respectively.

Both the local combinations were selected, but Isis, composed of one current Blue and three 2009 Isis reserve boat personnel, nearly blew it in the first round against the old enemy Cambridge.

Cambridge led over all bar the last few strokes of the course, before Isis slipped through to win by a foot, equalling the record for the event.

Cambridge lodged an official complaint about the Isis steering, but it was rejected.

The next three Isis wins were less controversial although they were led to halfway in the semi-final by NUI Galway.

The victory of the Oxford Brookes’ crew of Karl Hudspith, Scott Durant, Chris Abraham and Matthew Tarrant, with cox Hannah Clews, in the Prince Albert fours was more straightforward, with Rich-ard Spratley’s men having plenty to spare in all their races.

This included the final where they beat Yale University.

Remarkably, this was Spratley’s 23rd Henley win in his 17 years in charge at Brookes.

His Temple eight this year won two rounds before falling to the Dutch from Nereus and some of Spratley’s protégés were also involved with other crews at the regatta.

Peter Chambers was in the Durham and Brookes-winning Prince of Wales quad scull, in line to be selected for Great Britain Under 23 duty.

Two other Brookes men, Alex Holden-Smith and Peter Randolf, won their first round in the Goblets Pairs before losing to the eventual winners from New Zealand.

Katie Greves, from Oxford, stroked the GB women’s quad scull to an impressive win in the Princess Grace Quads, coming from behind to beat New Zealand in the final.

Abingdon School reached the final of the Princess Elizabeth School eights after four good wins, one against the Americans from Belmont Hill, when they came from well behind in to triumph by three-quarters of a length.

They were beaten by five lengths by an outstanding Eton crew.

Radley and St Edward’s won one round each before going out in the same event.

Wallingford’s Wyfold coxless four lost on the line to a high-rating Nottingham & Union crew in the semi-final.