The results of the Head of the River Fours suggest that, with a bit of hard work, this could be a good season for Thames.

At the international end of things, Elise Laverick, sculling a composite with Marlow members Katherine Grainger, Sarah Winckless and Annie Vernon, won the Women' Elite Quadruple Sculls and finished a superb 25th  out of 457 crews.  Beth Rodford, Carla Ashford, Baz Moffat and Alison Knowles were the fastest women's coxless four home, beating off a strong challenge from Leander.

There were no other wins, but four other crews finished in the top five of their division, giving good grounds for optimism.  A particular mention should go to the elite coxless four of Graham Redman, Simon Challen, Richard Burdett and Bryan Hoffman whic finished 46th overall and 5th in the division, an excellent result.

In the veterans race on Sunday,  Rick Reid, Peter Coulson, Claude Curtis and Patrick Clancy won Veteran C Novice quads.