ROWING.

There was a fierce shakeout at the top of the bratpack last Saturday. As expected, Steve Redgrave's Leander crew led the 410-boat flotilla in the Head of the River Race from start to finish, stretching out a good 25 lengths ahead of the University of London before Craven Cottage.

Overhauling the students at that point, however, were the supercool lightweights of London Rowing Club. Though conceding to Leander a couple of stones per man, London took full advantage of the declining flattish tide and light breeze, sniffing glory as they paced towards their supporters at their big Putney boathouse. Leander clocked 17 minutes 44 seconds to London's 17 minutes 56 seconds - only a few heartbeats' difference over each of the 4¼ miles.

Queen's Tower overtook Berliner RG Wiking and finished less than a second slower than London. Fourth fastest were the newest kids on the block, Oxford Brookes, followed by two Notts County eights and UL. With Greg Searle reshuffled into the stroke seat and Jim Walker at five, Molesey's time was within 30 seconds of Leander's, as was Tideway Scullers'.

Zurich 5C, 11th, retained last year's title as top overseas club. Overseas crews took four of the next five places, perhaps disadvantaged by their unfamiliarity with the river. Zurich SC's compatriots from the Grasshopper club, starting 31st, paid dearly for misjudging the sweep round from Barn Elms. They whacked along the side of the Black Buoy, snapping off the three-man's blade and bending all the bowside riggers. Despite masses of time lost fiddling their way to the line, the Grasshoppers finished within 20 minutes. Northern high achievers Agecroft fared worse, crashing into the buoy so hard that their shocked bow man Doug Pickup, turning round, saw the pointy bit floating away and murky Thames water lapping at his back.

Imperial College's first eight won the University Shield. Their second eight, cropped polls dyed black, blue and grey, won Senior 2 ahead of all the Senior 1s. Kingston and Thames Tradesmen both kept in the top 30. St Paul's School won Senior 3.

In unofficial matches, Cambridge outpaced London, Oxford beat Oxford Brookes, and both got well away from Molesey. Neither entered the Head: though observers may like to see them take on Leander, their special scrap at 1.15 tomorrow comes first. Nick Robinson gets Oxford away fast, but will Cambridge prove the more robust?

Winners of the Vesta Veterans' Head were the youngsters of Tyrian. Nottingham and Union Cs were second, and crews from 14 countries filled many of the top places.

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