Close pick for Boat Race crews

In one month’s time, one of the most traditional races in rowing takes to the waters of London’s River Thames. Oxford and Cambridge Universities have just announced their crews that will compete in the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race on 3 April.

Last year’s winners, Oxford, have secured American twins Tyler and Cameron Winkelvoss. Apart from being 2008 Olympians, the Winkelvoss twins are known for their lawsuit against the founder of Facebook which made them millionaires. Oxford has also retained Sjoerd Hamburger of the Netherlands who was part of the 2009 winning crew. Hamburger most recently has been the Netherlands’ top sculler and is the first Dutch person to be captain.

The non-British influence in the Oxford boat is rounded out by German Simon Gawlick, American Adam Barhmand in the coxswain seat and Ireland’s Martin Walsh. From Great Britain are Ben Meyers, Charlie Burkitt and Matt Evans, who now lives in Canada. Burkitt, an under-23 medallist, is in stroke seat.

The Cambridge crew is captained by returning American Deaglan McEachern who is motivated by last year’s defeat. McEachern trialled for the United States team in 2008 and just missed out on the Olympics in the quad. There are two more Americans in the crew: Derek Rasmussen and Code Sternal. Canada is represented by two top class rowers, Rob Weitemeyer and Peter McCelland.

Cambridge also has three British crew members who are knocking on the door of national team selection. They are Henry Pelly, who raced in the Cambridge boat last year, Fred Gill and Ted Randolph.

In a change from tradition, the crew announcement was accompanied by the weighing of the crews. Although there is very little in it, Cambridge came through half a kilo heavier. The weight of the crews is often used as an indication of who will have the advantage during the race as heavier crews historically have had a better chance of winning.

This year the early weigh-in is designed to give punters an early idea of power and strength. The marginal difference, however, gives little away.

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