NAILSWORTH’S Pete Reed and Alex Gregory stormed to world rowing’s oldest open prize at Henley Royal Regatta, when their national eight crushed London 2012 champions Germany to lift the Grand Challenge Cup, writes Nick Hartland.

And there was joy on the Thames for Gloucester Hartpury’s junior girls quadruple scull, as they retained the crown they won last year.

Everyone expected a close battle in the final of the 176-year-old Grand Challenge Cup after Germany pipped world champions GB to the European title in May and the Brits narrowly reversed the tables at the World Cup regatta in Italy last month.

But with Nailsworth’s Reed at three, Wormington’s Gregory at six and Chipping Campden’s Matt Gottrell at bow, they literally blew the London 2012 gold medalists off the water to the delight of thousands of home supporters on the bank.

With the crew strengthened by the return of Oxford Blue Constantine Louloudis at two, they cruised home against Australia in the semi-final by 1 1/4L.

And then in the Blue Riband race, Germany shot out to lead by a few feet at the quarter-mile mark, before GB pushed a few feet in front at the Barrier mark.

The race was set up to go to the wire, but from that point on, the Brits just kept pushing away.

And when they took clear water by halfway, the Olympic champions were left bobbing in their wake as the lead grew and grew to nearly three lengths.

Gregory said: “We got into a really good rhythm very early on in the race and we could see side by side with the Germans just how useful that rhythm was.”

The two crews face each other again at the final World Cup regatta in Lucerne this weekend, and Reed said: “HRR is in the past now. Germany will come back, no doubt!”

After senior victory at Henley Women’s Regatta, the Hartpury quadruple scull of Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne, Flo Pickles, Alice Bowyer and Frances Russell were determined to retain the Royal Regatta’s Diamond Jubilee Cup.

And after victory over Sir William Borlase School by 2 1/4L and Y Quad Cities, USA, by 2 1/2L in the semi-final, the National Schools winners lined up against Marlow in the final.

It was nip and tuck early on, but Hartpury made their move mid-race, the Thames outfit could do nothing to hold them as the champions raced home.