Despite the recent floods, high river levels and rapid streams, this wekend's Oxford City Royal Regatta & Sprint will go ahead almost intact.

With other clubs having to cancel their summer racing, this weekend is bound to draw the best of the region's competitors.

Event organiser Andrew Gillies said: "It's a huge relief that our regatta has defied the floodwater considering how severely the river broke it's banks only weeks ago."

A major attraction is the mixed medley. The point-free event entices rowers of the highest calibre from clubs as far reaching as Thames and City of Bristol.

Scored on a league system, the mixed crews compete against each other in a coxed fours, quad and eights events.

The league leader at the end of Sunday will win four sets of Concept Smoothie blades for their club.

Racing categories range from junior events to novice fours to elite singles.

The only event falling victim to recent events is the club's annual community event, corporate eights. It will now take place next Wednesday evening.

For spectators the event is free to all with the best viewing spot on the finish line at Hertford Boat Club along the towpath towards Donnington Bridge, where refreshments can also be found.

Abingdon School's Matthew Rossiter won a gold medal for Britain at his first major international event - the Junior World Championships in Beijing.

Rossiter was part of the GB junior coxless four which beat Germany and Holland by nearly a length to claim Britain's first medal on the new Olympic course.

"Our coach told us it was for us to lose. We'd won our first two races and didn't want to spoil that", said Rossiter.

He also praised the new Olympic course. "We're in awe that we're the test babies for it. It's amazing."

8:34am Thursday 16th August 2007

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