The Boat Race 15:40 BST, 29 March 2009 the Final Showdown Oxford May Be the Bookies’ Favourites but Don’T Discount the Light Blues, Says Martin Cross
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The 2003 Boat Race went right to the wire with Oxford crossing the line a foot ahead of Cambridge PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER LEE / GETTY IMAGES The Boat Race 15:40 BST, 29 March 2009 The final showdown Oxford may be the bookies’ favourites but don’t discount the Light Blues, says Martin Cross on’t be lulled into the mistake of thinking that the presence of so many international stars in the Oxford crew means that the DDark Blues’ name is already engraved on the Boat Race trophy. The 155th Boat Race will be decided more by the flow and cohesion that a crew shows under pressure mid-course, than its power. Oxford have the undoubted edge in power but despite being underdogs, Cambridge believe that their style, pace and experience will give them a winning edge. “...the 25-year-old double-blue cox could prove the Light Blues’ trump card...” The signs from last year’s race showed that Cambridge, even up against a stronger Oxford boat, were prepared to fight like tigers. PHOTO: IAN / GETTY WALTON IMAGES Five from that Light Blue boat return this year. And thanks to Chris Nilsson, their new Kiwi coach, they have clearly become better oarsmen, rowing with more length and power in the second half of the stroke. These improvements were significant enough for Cambridge’s boats to dominate their Dark Blue rivals in the Fours Head late last year. It’s why this is a race that could go the distance. But with six Olympians on board, if the Dark Oxford celebrate after winning last year’s Boat Race. Can Cambridge do it this year? Blues do develop cohesion early on, they will be a Donald Legget’s dream Cambridge Eight Donald Legget rowed in the 1962 Goldie crew, and the 1963 and 1964 Cambridge crews. He has coached at CUBC continuously since 1968. Bow – Tom James 3 – John Lecky “So who is at 4? A stream of blues been swayed by his continual (King’s Chester and Trinity Hall) (University of British Columbia and come to mind. I have gone for improvement since he was ‘found’ in Boat Races: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 Jesus) Boat Races: 1962, 1964 Malcolm Baker, 6 in the 1993 crew, Caius in 1998 and persuaded to start “Bow was obvious – it just has to be “My old friend, the late John Lecky who rowed for the USA in Banyoles rowing for the CUBC. Yes, it is Josh Tom James.” fills the 3 seat. Hugely talented, John in 1992. Never a pretty oar, Malcolm West who fills that space.” never envisaged defeat and set the always raised his game to another 2 – David Maxwell Goblets record at Henley in 1964 as level when it came to racing, as 6 – Boyce Budd (Eton and Jesus) well as winning a silver medal for Oxford found out.” (Yale and 1st and 3rd Trinity) Boat Races: 1971, 1972 Canada in the eight in Rome in 1960.” Boat Races: 1962 “David is probably one of the most 5 – Josh West “My anchorman on stroke-side is gifted natural oarsmen I have ever 4 – Malcolm Baker (Yale and Caius) Boat Races: 1999, Boyce Budd, who rowed 6 in 1962 and coached and he went on to row at 4 (Brown University and St. Edmund’s) 2000, 2001, 2002 was the heaviest man ever to row for in the GB silver medal eight in 1976.” Boat Races: 1993 “And so to 5 where perhaps I have Cambridge up to that point at 15st PHOTO: PETER SPURRIER PETER PHOTO: 02 Rowing & Regatta | April 2009 BOAT RACE real handful for Cambridge. That was not the case by Cambridge’s assistant coach Rob Baker he in Oxford’s fixture against the University of has inherited a squad who have a broadly Washington. For the first five minutes, Oxford similar idea of how to move a boat at speed. Steve Royle’s dream looked uncomfortable at the higher rates and Early pace for the Light Blues could be crucial were led by almost a length. But when down in putting Oxford’s cohesion under pressure. Oxford Eight under pressure, Oxford showed just why they will And Nilsson has used Nottingham’s 2k course Director of Rowing at OUBC, Steve has coached at Oxford since the late ’70s. start as the bookies’ favourites when they moved to develop top end speed. With three weeks to from a length down to head the Huskies in just 20 go, he pronounced himself: “Very pleased” with strokes. In that moment, it was easy to see why the pace his crew is showing. Bow – Jonny Searle coach Sean Bowden could label his crew “one of But the Light Blues’ real test will be to keep (Hampton and Christ Church) Boat Races: 1988, 1989, 1990 the strongest Oxford crews in years”. their pace while holding Oxford’s pushes in “A precocious young talent possessing innate sensitivity, Jonny was selected to row 7 in They are a crew of giants, with most men the second half of the course. Nilsson has put the blue boat as a freshman, a seat he retained for three years. With a fluid technique weighing in at close to 100kg. At 6'9", the Dutch a lot of faith in the ability of his new American he transmitted the perfect rhythm for others to follow.” Olympic single sculler Sjoerd Hamburger stands stroke Silas Stafford and described him as “a 2 – Andrew Lindsay out in the five seat, while the outstanding Kiwi real find”. Stafford will be strongly backed up (Eton and Brasenose) Boat Races: 1997, 1998, 1999 giant George Bridgewater, who won an Olympic by a group of three talented young British “A true Etonian, Andrew knew precisely what he wanted from Oxford and worked his socks pairs bronze in 2008, sits at seven. rowers anxious to show they can avenge last off to achieve his goals, culminating in gaining a first and Olympic gold at the age of 22.” The strength of the boat is such that the year’s defeat. In winning the Stewards President, Colin Smith, who stroked the British Challenge Cup last year, Henry Pelly, Pete 3 – Boris Rankov eight to silver in Beijing, has had to settle for the Marsland and Tom Ransley showed they have (Bradford GS and Corpus Christi) Boat Races: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 two seat, with the Croatian Olympic sculler, Ante the X-factor. Their ability to deliver will be “The modern day Boat Race legend – to win six consecutive races is, probably, an Kusurin, winning the battle for the stroke seat. crucial to the outcome of this race. unbeatable feat. I cannot describe Boris as a ‘classic oar’ but for sheer doggedness and But in effect, the presence of six different That line-up gives the Cambridge cox honesty he is unparalleled.” national rowing styles has created a problem for Rebecca Dowbiggin great confidence and the 4 – Matthew Pinsent Bowden, whose challenge has been to mould his experience of the 25-year-old double-blue cox (Eton and St Catherine’s) Boat Races: 1990, 1991, 1993 multi-national crew into a cohesive unit. And could prove the Light Blues’ trump card. Head “A truly awesome athlete with an indestructible engine, it’s no wonder Steven Redgrave chose while Bridgewater has relished rowing in the to head against the American rookie Colin Matthew – when only 19 – as his pairs partner, launching them both into Olympic history.” eight, it will be crucial to see how far he has Groshong, she is potentially the better cox. And managed to adapt his very distinctive pair-oared whichever station she ends up on, Dowbiggin 5 – Jamie Schroeder technique to the key seven seat of the eight. feels confident that she will find the right line (Stanford and Christ Church) Boat Races: 2006 With three weeks to go until the race, at the and provide the calm, collected calls needed to “A perfect 5 man who generates real boat speed from the middle of an eight. In a close time of press, it was clear Bowden still had work get the maximum speed out of her crew. race, those around him will feel his power and sense his control over the situation.” to do. And Smith admitted that it had been hard If the race does go all the way, expect the 6 – Mike Blomquist to mould together so many internationals and advantage of the Middlesex station to play a (Harvard and St Peter’s) Boat Races: 2005 said: “Even if the very experienced and confident key role towards the end of the race. Both “Mike is every coach’s dream, with perfect technique every stroke for 600 or more to win guys want to make a technical change, crews will handle most conditions with the Boat Race. His ability to transmit timing, length and power is a quality few can achieve.” sometimes it can be hard for them.” impunity, unless the near sinking conditions of The challenge for Nilsson has been different. 2006 appear again along Chiswick Eyot when 7 – Mike Evans Thanks to the excellent preparatory work done the Surrey station proved a real advantage. (Princeton and University) Boat Races: 1983, 1984 “Every crew needs a leader and Mike has this quality in abundance, having the ability to analyse training sessions constructively. In a race situation he would instinctively know “...one of the strongest Oxford crews in years...” when to ‘push the button’, galvanising his crew to follow.” Stroke – Andy Triggs-Hodge (Staffordshire University and St Graduate) Boat Races: 2005 “The Boat Race requires the stroke man to be a crew driver who is totally uninhibited when attached to the stake boat with a strong tide flowing under the boat and faced with the prospect of a 4¼ mile side-by-side duel.