Wye crews made a splash at the annual two-day Monmouth Regatta with 14 wins.

Around 1,000 rowers from 41 clubs launched out in a record 646 boats as sunshine bathed the Monmouthshire Building Society-sponsored event for the second year running.

Old Monmothians carried off the Phil Matthew memorial invitiational 8s, named after the former teacher and regatta commentator, in Saturday's 1500m event, watched from the side by members of the school's 1969 squad who had earlier taken to the water for a row past.

Monmouth Rowing Club's junior squad did an impressive Novice 8s and 4s double in Sunday's 750m sprint, while Monmouth Comprehensive School landed a hatful of wins.

The Old Monmothians crew took on Exeter RC and came out on top in a titanic battle by 3/4L.

Haberdashers' Old Girls nearly matched them in the Alex Woods Ladies Plate but narrowly lost out by 3/4L to Hereford, who beat Bewdley in the final.

Monmouth RC's juniors Keiren Mulvey, Ed Cowburn, Josh Hale, Matt Edmunds, Sam Edmunds, Ieuan Griffiths, Dougie Smith, masters rower Paul Bezani and cox Kathryn Lewis took on Cardiff University in the final of the Sprint Novice 8s in one of the races of the regatta.

With their coach John Jenkins watching from his commentary position, Cardiff looked to have the edge with 150m to go, but Monmouth lifted the rating to surge past to grab victory by three feet.

"I thought it was all over with 20 strokes to go, but then they just lifted the boat out of the water and came piling through," said their coach.

"Most of them have only been rowing since the winter, so it was a fantastic performance."

Earlier, Mulrey, Cowburn, Hale, Matt Edmunds and cox Lewis saw off Swansea University by 1/2L in the Novice 4s, then Llandaff B by a length and Llandaff A by 1/2L in the final.

Monmouth School saw off Stourport by 2 1/2L in their IM3 8s heat, but found Reading University half a length too quick in the final.

Their IM3 four won an epic race with De Montfort University B by a single foot, but found the Leicester outfit's 'A' crew just under a length too strong in the final.

Monmouth Comprehensive won the Girls U15 Quadruple Skulls comfortably against Gloucester over 1500m, while Monmouth RC's Hope Henry beat Staines easily to land the Girls' U14 singles.

In the sprints, Old Monmothians were comfotable winners over Upton in the Veteran Quadruple Skulls while Monmouth Comprehensive also won Novice Quadruple Skulls easily from Swansea.

The school also won IM3 doubles, U15 doubles and IM3 singles.

A feature of the weekend was the reunion of the 1969 Monmouth School squad, which involved some 50 people.

On Saturday, the 1969 8, containing Moscow Olympic medallist Charlie Wiggin, rode down the regatta course alongside another Old Monmothians boat before a celebration lunch at Monmouth Rowing Club and a presentation to old coach John Hartland.

Former Minister for Sport under Margaret Thatcher and British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan, who coxed at the school and won silver with the GB squad in Moscow, also attended and presented the regatta prizes.

In tribute to his former coach, he said: "If John hadn't stuck me in the cox's seat all those years ago, then none of the other things would have happened – not an Olympic medal, my part in Beijing and London, none of it.

"I owe him so much. I've great memories of my time rowing and at Monmouth School."

Regatta spokesman Eric Froggatt said: "It was a great weekend.

"The weather was superb and we have had lots of emails and comments from clubs saying how much they enjoyed the event, which is a testament to all the club members and volunteers who work so hard, and all our sponsors."