Leander Club today provided Oxford, in the words of the University Boat Club’s Director of Rowing, Stephen Royle, a “valuable lesson” by taking a three and a half length victory over the Dark Blues in a race from Putney to Chiswick Steps.

Oxford, eager to use the fixture as a warm-up for the Boat Race, sponsored by Xchanging on April 7th, lost the toss and raced on Middlesex.

In blustery and choppy conditions they crept ahead in the first 15 strokes but Leander, stroked by former winning Oxford Blue Colin Smith, quickly inched back and then took the early lead.

“They got into a really good rhythm and basically gradually pulled away from us from that point onwards”, said Royle. “It was a good lesson for us to learn. The Tideway is a very unforgiving place if you don’t get good length and power”.

Former Dark Blue, Peter Reed, world champion in the men’s four, was part of the Leander line-up today in the seven seat.

Oxford got into a better rhythm as the race reached St Paul’s but they could not make any impact with Leander rating lower and looking very powerful. Both crews shipped water in heavy weather before Hammersmith Bridge.

OXFORD (from bow to stroke plus cox)

Michal Plotkowiak

Adam Kosmicki

Andrew Wright

Magnus Fleming

Robin Ejsmond-Frey

William "Brodie" Buckland

Terence Kooyker

Ante Kusurin

Nicholas Brodie

Conditions were similar to those experienced in the 2004 Trial Eight for the 2005 Race (see our 2004 picture opposite).