GREAT BRITAIN collected five of the top titles on finals day of the Henley Royal Regatta with 33 records also falling.

Britain picked up wins in the men’s fours and pairs as well as all three open-weight men’s sculling although Greg Searle, a steward at Henley, was denied what in all probability would have been a final win at the Regatta as Germany took the honours in the men’s eight Grand Challenge Cup, breaking all of the course records.

The British men’s eight are world silver medallists and will now travel to next week’s World Cup in Switzerland knowing the German outfit will again be their main competitors.

The men’s quadruple scull team of Stephen Rowbotham, Tom Solesbury, Bill Lucas and Sam Townsend were impressive in beating the world champions from Croatia to win the Queen Mother Challenge Cup while Britain’s double scull of Matt Wells and Marcus Bateman were winners of the Double Sculls Challenge Cup.

Pete Reed and Andrew Triggs Hodge equalled Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave’s overall record in beating Italy in the Silver Goblets and Nickall’s Challenge Cup for men’s pairs and Alan Campbell completed a hat-trick of Henley wins in the Diamond Challenge Sculls with a win over Nicholas Hudson of Australia.

The Stewards’ Challenge Cup and Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup for school eights were also won by home crews.