The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race sponsored by Xchanging

One of two pairs of brothers who set a Boat Race precedent in 2003 by competing in opposing crews. David’s older brother James was in the losing Cambridge crew whilst Matt Smith (Oxford) competed against his younger brother (Ben). All four attended Hampton School. David is a former world junior champs bronze medallist (eight), 2001, and a Coupe de la Jeunesse bronze medallist (eight), 1999. Winner of the senior Fours Head, coxless four (2001). Schools Head winner (eight) in 1999 and (coxed four) 2001. Inspired to take up rowing by the Searle brothers’ gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. His father, John, rowed at a Cambridge College and his mother, Kate, studied at Cambridge but did not row. Spent his summer in Honduras studying shrimp populations for his dissertation project and caught a species which had not been seen since 1812.