Rachel Quarrell, an expert at organising Oxford University events, is looking forward to what could be the first full Torpids in many years Floodwater has really taken its toll of the inter-college competition in recent years. There was no event at all in 2007 and truncated versions for several years before that.

But with a good forecast, it is hoped that by the time you read this, college crews will be up and rowing!

Oriel led off both the men's and women's First divisions, chased off by Magdalen and Queen's respectively.

Magdalen's men used the recent Bedford Head to hone their skills and achieved fourth and second places in the senior 3 and senior 4 eights respectively.

At the same event, local clubs City of Oxford, Wallingford and Abingdon also featured quite strongly.

City's top performances spread across the field with wins in the men's senior 2 eights and senior 2 coxless fours and second places in the senior 3 fours and the junior 14 quads.

Wallingford's women once again hit trophy territory with victories in the senior 2 and senior 3 eights.

Abingdon's women missed out on a senior 4 fours success by just one second to locals Bedford High.