Cambridge coach Steve Trapmore believes a different training regime, rather than a height and weight advantage, can help his crew end a run of three straight Oxford wins when the old rivals meet for the 162nd University Boat Race on Sunday.

Despite their recent losing record, the Light Blues have been installed as favourites for this weekend's renewal on the 4 miles, 374 yards (6.8 km) course between Putney and Mortlake on the River Thames in London.

That's largely down to the fact they are 11.8 kilogrammes heavier overall and 1.5 centimetres taller per man, with their eight-man crew containing four rowers with previous Boat Race experience compared to Oxford's one.

Rowing wisdom has it that, all other things being equal, a "good big one will beat a good little one" but Trapmore said preparation was the key to success.

"I don't read too much into that," said Trapmore. "It's about performing on the day, whether you're tall, short, thin or fat."

"We've approached the whole year differently," added the 41-year-old, who won an Olympic gold medal in the British eight at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
"Land training is a little bit tougher. We've focused more on developing real core athleticism in the gym."

Past editions of the Boat Race, an annual contest involving teams from England's two oldest universities that was first run in 1829, have featured some of the world's leading rowers.

But Oxford's Constantine Louloudis, a bronze medallist at the 2012 Olympics in London and involved in four of the Dark Blues' wins in the past five years has now graduated.

Training for the Boat Race on a twisting, tidal course, has hugely different requirements than for the 2,000 metres straight run in Olympic events.

As a result, with the Rio Games just months away, not many of this weekend's competitors are expected to be among the medallists in Brazil.

Cambridge lead the overall men's standings by 81 wins to 79 but the history of the event is littered with unexpected results and Oxford president Morgan Gerlak believes his crew have it in them to upset the formbook.

"It's definitely been interesting," he said. "We've built from the bottom up," added the 23-year-old American of an event where some 250,000 spectators in all are expected to line the banks of the Thames.

"Everyone's really excited about the race."

In the women's event, Cambridge will be out for revenge after a comprehensive six-and-a-half length loss in 2015.

"It was challenging last year but it means that those of us returning have a lot of fire for this year," said Cambridge's Daphne Martschenko, an American studying for a doctorate.
SourcE: AFP