The Isis was packed for the Oxford University Summer Eights, in which Pembroke’s men were stroked to victory by a woman with three Oly-mpic medals to her name.

Caryn Davies, who led to US women's eight to victory at both the Beijing and London Olympics, following a silver at Athens in 2004, inspired Pembroke to move top after a bump on Oriel, who slipped to third behind Christ Church.

The 31-year-old Davies, who has a degree from Harvard University, is a visiting student at the college.

Pembroke women’s hopes of completing a double were dashed when they slipped from first to fourth. St John’s were the women’s stars, moving to the top spot from third.

Wadham remained second and St Edmund Hall rose sharply from sixth to third.

l Headington and Abingdon won golds at the National Schools Regatta at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham.

They won the top Championship Eights and Fours in the girls and boys events respectively, while Headington won a further gold, two silvers and a bronze.

Dave Currie, the top squad coach at Abingdon School, saw his first eight, already winners of the Schools Head, go a step closer to repeating the “big triple” (Schools Head, National Schools and Henley) which they achieved last year, with an impressive victory.

On the basis of last weekend’s results, Abingdon’s biggest threat to the Henley win could come from their nearest neighbours, the rapidly improving St Edward’s crew, who took the silver medals behind Abingdon in both the eights and fours.

Headington’s six-medal haul might have been more if the Friday programme, had not been stopped after the first five races due to the strong wind.

Happily for Headington, they notched three Junior 14 medal slots in the races that were run – gold, silver and bronze for their J14 women’s quads.

Their other silver came for their J15s on Sunday, so things look good for the future.