Oxford tipped to beat Cambridge in Boat Race

Xchanging Boat Race: Oxford v Cambridge
Venue: River Thames, London Date: 3 April 2010, 1630 BST
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One and the BBC Sport website (all users) from 1515 BST listen on BBC 5 live sports extra from 1600
Oxford look better in rough water than Cambridge, with bad weather forecast

By Martin Gough

Oxford are favourites to win their third straight Boat Race in forecasted rough conditions on the River Thames.
Cambridge have made several late changes to their line-up as they aim to win their 80th race in 156th attempts.
But their president Deaglan McEachern said: "You have to be confident going into it, and we're pretty confident."
Oxford's crew for Saturday's race has twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who won a legal battle with Facebook then came sixth at the 2008 Olympics.
But their only rower with previous Boat Race experience is Dutch Olympian Sjoerd Hamburger, their president.


Cambridge have a trio of fringe Great Britain squad members in Henry Pelly, stroke Fred Gill and George Nash.
American McEachern and bowman Rob Weitmeyer from Canada raced last year and Pelly is back for a third time, aiming for his first victory.
But they have tinkered with their line-up in the last few weeks, making Geoff Roth the third Canadian in their line-up and a record fourth in the race.

The wind and the weather conditions are a fact of rowing so we prepare for it Oxford cox Adam Barhamand

Gill replaced Pelly in the key stroke seat and, surprisingly, McEachern was asked to switch sides, although he is now on his favoured bow side.
With a strong south-westerly wind forecast, conditions are likely to be tough from Hammersmith Bridge, just before the half-way mark on the 4.25 mile course between Putney and Mortlake.
Bookmakers have slashed their odds on a sinking to 16-1 this week, after heavy betting on an event that has not happened in the race since 1978, when the Cambridge crew had to be rescued.

606: DEBATE On Saturday, the 156th Boat Race is upon us and the weather ain't going to be the best. I'm going for Cambridge to break their duck EDGE

Oxford's trial race in December was stopped, after a bailing pump in one of the boats failed and they took on too much water.
The toss could be key - in 64 races since the end of World War II, 39 have been won by the crew on the southern Surrey side of the course (to the left in TV coverage).
Both crews will look to use pushes around Hammersmith Bridge in an attempt to take an unassailable advantage for the second half of the race.


Oxford coach Sean Bowden, who has won seven of his 11 races with the dark blues, has produced a crew that look more capable than their rivals of dealing with rough water.
But Cambridge, under former New Zealand head coach Chris Nilsson, appear more technically able in good water so the longer the race stays close, the better their chance of victory.
"The wind and the weather conditions are a fact of rowing so we prepare for it," said Oxford's American cox Adam Barhamand, who steered reserve crew Isis to victory last year.
"In a perfect world we would probably row in flat conditions on a beautiful, sunny day but that's just not this race."



Oxford: Ben Myers (GB), Martin Walsh (Ire), Tyler Winklevoss (USA), Cameron Winklevoss (USA), Sjoerd Hamburger (Ned), Matt Evans (Can/GB), Simon Gawlick (Ger), Charlie Burkitt (GB), Adam Barhamand (cox; USA)
Cambridge: Rob Weitemeyer (Can), Geoff Roth (Can), George Nash (GB), Peter McCelland (Can), Deaglan McEachern (USA), Henry Pelly (GB), Derek Rasmussen (USA), Fred Gill (GB), Ted Randolph (cox - GB)


(fom BBC)

Cambridge for me...

Excellent tactical win Cambridge..... yeh-hah.....






.