OXFORD Brookes proved the crews to beat at the Reading University Head of the River contest, writes JOHN WIGGINS.

With many students racing twice, they produced the fastest four times of the day and won the top five men’s titles.

The Brookes women claimed three wins, but were eclipsed by Oxford University in the elite women’s eights.

Headington School produced the best time for junior girls, but their adult senior eights crew missed victory by just a second to Brookes, while their J16s won the adult women’s novice eights.

Radley College took both the boy’s J18 and J16 eights.

Wallingford RC won the masters C eights, while Abingdon RC, with the help of City of Oxford rowers, claimed the D category.

OXFORD University’s Boat Race hopefuls were put to the test when they raced Dutch champions, AS Nereus.

They lost the first race, but won the second by half a length.

PEMBROKE’S men retained the ‘head of the river’ title for a sixth year in a row at the Oxford University college Torpids bumping races.

Magdalen, who have dominated the women’s event since 2010, faltered spectacularly, succumbing to Oriel on the first day, and then sliding ten places to the bottom.

HINKSEY enjoyed success at the Gloucester Head, winning the WJ15 double, WJ13 quad and J18 boys quad.

Headington School were victorious in the WJ14 quad, while Magdalen took first in the J16 double, J18 single and J16 single.