In an historic move, St Edward's School's first eight will be coached by a woman this season.

Eve Singfield has coached at Teddies since 2002, being mainly involved with the girls' crews, and has also been involved as a GB junior international coach, She will continue to mastermind the girls' section, aided by Zoe de Toledo and Jenny Coker, both new to the school and from Oxford Brookes and Bath University respectively.

Former Shiplake headmaster Nick Bevan continues with the second eight, while Ed Green and Karl Offord lead the junior 16 and 15 coaching teams Former Oxford resident and unbeaten Blue John Wiggins remains in charge of the whole boat club.

In addition to a modernised clubroom and facilties, the school expect a new first eight boat to arrive shortly.

Great Britain women's quadruple scull crew - which includes Wheatley's Frances Houghton - from last August's World Championships at Dorney Lake have been promoted to gold medal winners.

Houghton, Debbie Flood, Sarah Winckless and Kath Grainger had finished runners-up to Russia.

But Russia's Olga Samulenkova tested positive for testosterone in a drugs test in July.

The Russian crew have been disqualified and must hand back their medals.