Crews representing Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs will be seen sparring on the Thames on Saturday (8 November) with both clubs entering five boats in the Fours Head race - three of which from each university will be in the elite coxed fours.
This will be the first time the two universities get to see the measure of each other and the public see the new squads in action. Racing against each other over a four and a quarter mile stretch of the Thames in the opposite direction to the Boat Race between Mortlake and Putney, it will be an opportunity for the squad members to put markers down for the 2009 Race.
Oxford's 2009 squad has only one returning 2008 Blue - American Aaron Marcovy - but several internationals line up including Ante Kururin (Croatia), Sjoerd Hamburger (Holland), George Bridgewater (New Zealand), Thomas Solesbury (GB) and Oxford President, Colin Smith (GB).
Cambridge will have four returning 2008 Blues - Cambridge President Henry Pelly, Tom Ransley, Peter Marsland, Ryan Monaghan - plus 2007 Blue and 2008 President, Dan O'Shaughnessy and two internationals, Hardy Cubasch(Australia) and Robert Weitemeyer (Canada).