Oxford President Robin Esjmond-Frey today (Saturday) won the toss for the 153rd Boat Race - sponsored by Xchanging - and chose to row from Surrey Station.

Esjmond-Frey will hope winning the toss is a good omen for the 2007 Boat Race - the Dark Blue crew won the toss last year, chose to race from Surrey and went on to win the race by five lengths.

"It’s got a nice ring to it," said the Oxford President after winning the toss.

Ejsmond-Frey tossed the coin - an 1829 gold sovereign - in his capacity as this year’s President of the Blue Boat that won last year. Cambridge President Tom James called tails, but the coin landed on its head - giving the Oxford President the choice of starting stations.

But James, whose crew will row from Middlesex station, said he was happy starting from either stration. He said: "Looking at the conditions today, it’s not going to matter too much. We’re happy with either station really."

The Dark Blue Boat will be hoping to keep pace with 2007 Boat Race favourites Cambridge on the Fulham Bend so they can then take full advantage of the big Surrey Bend.

The 153rd Boat Race, which is sponsored by Xchanging, gets underway at 4.30pm today (Saturday). It is being broadcast live by ITV Sport and LBC.