Teenage prospect Holly Holden, of Cheney School, Oxford, has been selected by the Amateur Rowing Association to attend the National Talent Orientation Camp at Loughborough University.

She joins other gifted youngsters who are predicted to have what it takes to go for Olympic gold.

The youngsters will be mentored by some of the country's top athletes, including double Olympic gold medallist, Dame Kelly Holmes.

If nothing else, the organisers of the Wallingford Head show perseverence.

They decided back in 1995 that there should be a December Head of the River.

The first year, with 97 crews entered, was cancelled due to freezing fog.

By 2005, the entry was oversubscribed and 260 crews were accepted.

In 2006, 278 had been accepted before flooding caused cancellation as it did in December 2007.

The Wallingford organisers made some hasty reorganisation and the event will now be held this Sunday.

Just under 150 crews will still be in attendance in spite of the late changes.

Fifteen local clubs, schools, colleges and university Boat Race squads are among the entry that will be run off in two divisions, one at 10.30am and one at 1.30pm over a three-mile upstream course from Moulsford Railway Bridge to the new Oxford University boathouse.