A powerhouse Radcliffe four stroked to victory in the Head-of-the-Charles Women's Fours competition Sunday, but a weaker contingent foundered in the Women's Eights.

Radcliffe coach John Baker diverted his forces' energies from the eights events by splitting his top eight oarswomen into two fours. One boat won the fours event, and the other placed fourth in Sunday's field of 15.

Powerful Boat

Four members of Radcliffe's 1974 sprint champion eight powered the winning boat. They were Katie Moss at bow, Allison Hill at two, Allison Hall at three, Wiki Royden at stroke and co-captain Nancy Hadley at cox.

The winning Radcliffe four covered the blustery three-mile Head course in 20 minutes, 34.8 seconds.

Three veterans of Radcliffe's four from last spring's intercollegiate racing teamed with Williams oarswoman Gay Symington to grab fourth place in the fours division.

The first Radcliffe four, Yale, and the University of New Hampshire finished ahead of Symington and Radcliffe's Robin Lothrop (bow), Anne Robinson (3), Barbara Norris (stroke), and Amy Sacks (cox).

Radcliffe passed four boats in the first mile and a half of the race. But strong crews from Radcliffe and Yale were far ahead, and the second Radcliffe four was unable to overtake them.

"It is difficult to keep going as fast without other boats to push you. After we passed the four boats, we were alone," said sacks.

Radcliffe as much as forfeited the title it won last year in the Women's Eights division by stacking its strong rowers in the fours. Baker said he "wanted to give my oarsmen a change of pace."

Weakened Eights

Three Radcliffe boats competed in the eights event, but rowing novices filled two, and the lightweight squad powered the other.

The first and second novice boats finished 23rd and 34th in the field of 43 women's eights. The Radcliffe lightweights took 28th.

Coach Peter Huntsman said the lights performed "very well for their first competition of the year."

National champion Vesper Boat Club of Philadelphia took the Head Women's Eights crown from Radcliffe with a time of 18:24.4.