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The Oxford rowers line up following the announcement of this year's Boat Race crews on Wednesday (from left) Nick Brodie, William Dunning, Charles Cole, Oli Moore, Mike Wherley, Aaron Marcovy, Ben Smith, Toby Medaris, Jan Herzog

The three Britons in Oxford University's crew for the 154th Boat Race on March 29 were born and bred in Oxfordshire The president, Nick Brodie, was the most successful cox from Abingdon School, achieving a rare hat-trick of wins in the Schools Head, the National Schools and Henley.

Ben Smith was a star at St Edward's School before going on to Great Britain under 23 honours at Imperial College, and Oli Moore, from Burford, and a product of Radley, also won under 23 medals before gaining a GB senior vest last summer.

It was a difficult year for former Blues.

The Cambridge president, Dan O'Shaughnessy, did not 'make the cut', while three 2007 Dark Blue performers, Canadian/American Andrew Wright, Polish international Michal Plotkowiak, and 2007 president Robin Ejsmond-Frey, were named in the Oxford reserve boat, Isis.

This left Brodie as the only former Blue in an Oxford line-up composed of four Americans, three Brits, one Australian and one German, backing up Brodie's earlier season comment that previous Blues would have to fight to keep their seats in this year's boat.

Overall, Oxford do seem to have the pedigree this year.

Among their four Americans is Mike Wherley, one of the USA's most renowned Olympic and world performers, who, is set to become the oldest ever Boat Race oarsman.

Wherley, who rowed for the USA in the 2000 and 2004 Games, will occupy the No 5 seat. He celebrates his 36th birthday two weeks before the race.

Jan Hertzog, a perennial in the German team, is one of a few former lightweight stars to row in the race.

BOAT RACE.

Oxford: Jan Herzog (St Catherine's), Toby Medaris (Kellogg), Ben Smith (Christ Church), Aaron Marcovy (St Edmund Hall), Mike Wherley (Oriel), Oli Moore (Oriel), Charles Cole (Kellogg), William England (Christ Church), cox Nick Brodie (St Catherine's).

Cambridge: Colin Scott (Trinity Hall College), Tim Perkins (Jesus), Henry Pelly (St Edmund's), Tobias Garnett (Trinity), Peter Marsland (Clare Hall), Tom Ransley (Hughes Hall), Tom Edwards (Gonville and Caius), Shane O'Mara (Hughes Hall), cox Rebecca Dowbiggin (Emmanuel).

11:36am Thursday 6th March 2008

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