University | Sport

04 Mar 09

This year’s Boat Race is set to be another hard-fought contest as Oxford will field five Olympic rowers, while Cambridge have announced their team of GB contenders.

The teams for the 155th Boat Race on March 29 2009 were announced today (4 March) and leave Oxford hoping for another win – which would give them their fourth in five years, although Cambridge lead 79-74 with one dead heat.

Team captain Colin Smith and his Oxford team-mates at the team announcement Credit: Getty Images

Although Colin Smith occupied the key stroke seat in the silver medal-winning Great Britain Olympic eight, Croatian Ante Kusurin will take the spot for Oxford in the popular varsity match. 

President of the Oxford University Boat Club, Colin Smith, is studying for a masters in business. He said: ‘The rowing isn't quite Olympic standard but it almost is; the people are very committed.’

Cambridge's Henry Pelly, Tom Ransley and Peter Marsland are all contending for GB international vests this summer and new Cambridge coach Chris Nilsson was in charge of the New Zealand Olympic squad in Beijing.

Colin Smith and New Zealander George Bridgewater, who won bronze in the coxless pair in Beijing, are the stars for Oxford.

Oxford Head Coach Sean Bowden said: ‘I believe that we have one of the strongest Oxford crews in years. We have a technically strong and experienced crew but we still recognise the challenge that Cambridge represent this year and we are continuing to push ourselves to prepare for the Race.’

This year Oxford has taken advantage of an opportunity to display its Campaign website on the boat for the first time.

Oxford’s Boat Race crew is: Michal Plotkowiak, Colin Smith, Alex Hearne, Ben Harrison, Sjoerd Hamburger, Tom Solesbury, George Bridgewater, Ante Kusurin and Colin Groshong (cox).