The annual spring rowing event, staged by the Abingdon rowing club, is one thing I don’t see advertised in Abingdon, but it brings in ‘those in the know’ from places like Marlow, Maidenhead, Henley, Reading, Wallingford, Oxford and Evesham.

Today’s first time trials began soon after 9:30 when it was still cool. During the day the sky cleared and the sun beamed on the afternoon rowers.

Boats set off at intervals from near Culham…

The finish is 2KM upstream near the blue boat house on Wilsham Road.

Then follows a more leisurely row past some of Abingdon’s most famous buildings

and back under Burford Bridge to Rye Farm meadow where the landing stages are positioned.