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Bookies favour Oxford to win
28/03/2008 19:07 - (SA)
London - The Oxford and Cambridge crews will be battling the weather as much as each other in Saturday's 154th edition of the Boat Race.
Stormy conditions and choppy waters are forecast for the 6.8km amateur rowing classic on the River Thames.
Southwesterly winds of more than 32km/h are predicted, increasing the likelihood of boats being swamped.
That's what nearly happened to the Cambridge crew in similar conditions in 2006.
Cambridge coach Duncan Holland said: "It's easy to underestimate the race and the river, but I don't think anyone will be making those mistakes second time around."
Oxford coach Sean Bowden hopes his crew has learned lessons from practicing in recent bad weather.
"We can expect some strong head winds and some rough water and that's going to obviously add an extra dimension to the race.
Ready to guide crew
"It will be important tactically to be really astute and get yourself in a good position for any kind of rough water."
Oxford cox Nick Brodie, the only returning rower from last year's crew, said he was ready to guide his crew through any wild weather.
"The guys are actually quite excited about the prospect of getting to race in rough water. That's very much an Oxford thing, liking the rough stuff and getting stuck in and getting on with it," Brodie said.
Oxford is the heavier crew, which is traditionally an advantage.
Cambridge is still adjusting to losing American stroke Shane O'Mara, who has a heart condition.
Cambridge spent the past two days practicing with new stroke Ryan Monaghan, another American who was promoted from the reserve boat after O'Mara was forced to withdraw Wednesday.
Monaghan's arrival gave the Cambridge boat an additional 6.4kg, but it still weighs 43.2kg less than Oxford's crew, which comes in at 786.6kg.
Oxford is the favourite with British bookmakers. William Hill cut the price of an Oxford victory on Friday from 5-6 to 8-15, with Cambridge listed at 11-8.
- AP
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