After recent time trials, Cambridge have changed the line up of the Blue Boat announced earlier this month by moving Club President Deaglan McEachern into the 5 seat to bring him in direct opposition to his Oxford counterpart Sjoerd Hamburger, just as he was in last year’s Race.

Just 18 days ahead of the 2010 Xchanging Boat Race on 3 April, the Cambridge boat has also seen the introduction of a third Canadian rower, 22-year-old Geoff Roth from Edmonton and St Edmund’s College on the stroke-side to compensate for McEachern’s switch from 6 seat to 5.

Ahead of the first Fixture against Molesey on Sunday, Chief Coach Chris Nilsson has also decided to put 24-year-old Fred Gill from Shrewsbury into the stroke seat, and last year’s President Henry Pelly into the 6 seat in front of McEachern.

“Deaglan is much more comfortable in the 5 seat of the boat and its suits him best, but his switch put pressure on the bow-side,” said Nilsson. “Code Sternal lost out in the time trial and the Goldie stroke Geoff Roth stepped up. Fred Gill being at stroke gives us a proven combination with his pair partner George Nash in the stern of the boat,” he added.

The new-look Cambridge Blue Boat is as follows:

Bow Rob Weitemeyer (St. Edmund’s – Can)

2 Geoff Roth (St. Edmund’s – Can)

3 Derek Rasmussen (Hughes Hall – USA)

4 Peter McClelland (Pembroke – Can)

5 Deaglan McEachern (Hughes Hall – USA)

6 Henry Pelly (St. Edmund’s – GB)

7 George Nash (St. Catharine’s – GB)

Stroke Fred Gill (Hughes Hall – GB)

Cox Ted Randolph (Peterhouse – GB)

Despite the changes, Cambridge remain the slightly heavier crew at 760.4kgs (119 stone, 10lbs & 6ozs) with Oxford at 756.6kgs (119 stone 2 lbs).