WYE rowers powered to glory on the Thames, as more than 1,200 rowers from 12 nations launched out on Henley's timber-boomed course at the 30th Masters Regatta.

Monmouth RC's men's fours proved unstoppable, going all the way to victory against the cream of veteran rowing.

And other crews also gave a good account, with Olympic medallists and former internationals among their opponents.

Racing 1,000m upstream from 'The Island' to the Upper Thames boathouse, the Masters E (over-55) coxless four of James Allison, Alex Mitchell, Olympian Tim Male and stroke Nick Hooton beat host club UT by 1L in Friday's heat.

With the tailwind easing overnight, next up on Saturday morning were Minerva Bath who they headed by 3/4L.

And then against Chester outfit Grosvenor in the final, they landed the medals in another tight race by 1L.

Hooton had a busy time, doubling up in the MF (over-60) coxed four alongside Toby Harding, Colin Lewis, Paul Bezani and cox Hannah Llewellyn-Davies.

The Monmouth RC over-60 four turn on the power at Henley Masters
The Monmouth RC over-60 four turn on the power at Henley Masters. Photo: Ben Redford Photography (Ben Redford Photography)

They beat York City by 1L in their Friday opener, and then had 1 3/4L too much for semi-final opponents Reading on Saturday morning.

That put them up against top London club Tideway Scullers in the medal race-off, where the Wye guys powered home a full 4L clear.

Monmouth RC's women's MF eight of Bonita Birkett, Sarah Part, Maggie Hickland, Sheilagh Sawyer, Liz Newman, Mary Miller, Liz Lewis, Louise Allison and cox Taryn Birkett had to face a four-club Upper Thames/ Bedford/ Wallingford/ Tideway Scullers composite boat.

Monmouth Rc's women enjoyed themselves at Henley Masters Regatta
Monmouth Rc's women enjoyed themselves at Henley Masters Regatta. Photo: Monmouth RC (Monmouth RC)

But they held the multi-club outfit to 2L, with the winners then winning the final by just feet from a full Wallingford crew.

The women's MD (over-50) four of Dawn Brace, Rachel Westerlund, Kathryn King, Ellen Rule and cox Taryn also raced hard, but had to give second best to Kingston by 2.5L.

Melanie Brown won her MG (over-65) singles heat by the same margin from a Maidstone sculler, but then faced two-time US Olympic medallist Ann Grainger racing for Wallingford in the final, who had too much firepower, while the men's ME double scull of Ewart Birkett and Julian Shaw also missed out to a duo from Warwick.

Frances Lester, 81, also made a splash with her Upper Thames opponent, as the regatta's first over 80s women to race.

Frances Lester, left, with her certificate at Henley Masters Regatta
Frances Lester, left, with her certificate at Henley Masters Regatta. Photo: Frances Lester, left, with her certificate at Henley Masters Regatta (Henley Masters Regatta)

The home sculler won, but both were presented with special certificates to mark the occasion.

Monmouth RC secretary Kathryn Lewis also won stroking her City of Bristol women’s MB (over-36) eight to a 5L win over Kingston/Walton.

Monmouth Comprehensive alumni Sarah Lewis beat a Kingston sculler in the women's MC (over-42) singles, before bowing out to the Bradford-on-Avon event winner by 3L.

Old Monmothian Stewart Bell was also on board a quick Upper Thames MD (over-50) eight which beat Tideway Scullers by 2.5L before losing a final humdinger with Molesey by just 1/3L.

Meanwhile, 11 Wye junior rowers have been selected for Wales to race at the Home Countries Regatta this Saturday (July 27) at Strathclyde Country Park in Glasgow.

Monmouth RC alumni George Coates, now at Hartpury, joins Monmouth School’s Ben Jennery, Max Hole, George Whittal-Williams, James Loose, Patrick Stubbs and William Latheron, Monmouth School for Girls’ Ailsa Whitehead and Freya Berglund, and Monmouth Comprehensive’s Seren Van der Horst and Eleanor Lawrence-Preston.