WITH the Reading Head falling to the weather, Oxford University rowers had to content themselves with competing in the inter-university Ergometer Relay Race in aid of the Lord Snowdon Award Scheme, writes Mike Rosewell.

The Oxford crew including Dutch president, Sjoerd Hamburger, and the Olympic finalist Winklevoss twins, from America, finished fourth behind winners Reading, Cambridge and Oxford Brookes.

Hamburger admitted that the Oxford team had difficulty finding the right tactic but, “it was for a good cause”.

There were no real pointers to Boat Race success.

Meanwhile, today’s Schools Head at Chiswick has 276 crews involved, including Abingdon, St Edward’s, Radley and Headington.

Top local crews to watch in the 300-crew 70th Women’s Head on Saturday will be Wallingford, Headington and City of Oxford.