Molesey Boat Club stellar men’s eight ended an 18 year drought to claim the Head of the Rive Race on Saturday, pipping perennial rivals Leander Club to the title by three seconds.

It was the club’s first triumph in the event since 1992 and was accompanied by four of the Barge Walk outfit’s six club crews finishing in the top 30.

Skipper Andy Triggs-Hodge, joined in the winning crew by fellow Team GB Olympian Tom James, believes the results over the four and half mile Championship Course between Chiswick and Putney, prove Molesey is fast becoming one of the country’s leading contenders.

“Our Head of the River results encompass the efforts of a lot of people over many years. We have achieved something significant that we can all be proud of,” he said.

“To build an eight that is capable of winning the Head means to be the best in the country, and to build a club that has four boats in the top 30 means to be the best club in the country.

“We did what we did because someone a long time ago set out with that vision and as captain, I can be proud of what the club has achieved and I hope I can plant an idea for someone in the future to have a chance to do the same”