OXFORDSHIRE'S young rowers ruled the waves at the National Schools Regatta at Nottingham.

The boys of Radley College and the girls of Headington School established themselves as the top rowing schools in the country.

Radley won the Queen Mother's Cup for championship eights just after Headington had won the girls' championship eights for the first time in the school's history.

Headington ended Lady Eleanor Holles' eight-year domination of the event in emphatic style, while Radley were chased home by neighbours Abingdon, who finished as runners-up for the third time in the last four years.

The championship eights wins for Radley and Headington capped a highly successful weekend for the pair.

Radley completely dominated the boys' eights racing, winning four other events to finish top of the gold medal table.

And they were only denied an unprecedented sixth gold when their third eight were pipped by Hampton in their final.

Headington, with one other gold, three silvers and three bronze, were the leading school in terms of numbers of medals - winning eight in total.

Abingdon also finished well up the medal table in fifth place with five sets of medals - three silvers and two bronze.

St Edward's, Oxford gained a gold in the junior 16 fours and two bronze.