Boat race: Oxford coach hits out over national team rowing ‘veto’

Oxford coach Sean Bowden has taken a swipe at GB Rowing for effectively blocking home-grown athletes with international potential from competing in the Xchanging Boat Race.

Constantine Louloudis, who stroked Oxford to victory last year, and Cambridge’s George Nash have both taken a year off from their studies to compete for Great Britain at the Olympics.

But, from an Oxford perspective, Bowden believes Louloudis is an exception and he is frustrated with how few British rowing undergraduates are joining the university. Only five of the 16 rowers competing in today’s race are British and two of the four in Bowden’s Dark Blue boat took up rowing after joining Oxford.

“It’s very difficult for good British undergraduates to be allowed to row for Oxford or Cambridge by the national team,” Bowden said.

“They have more or less vetoed any involvement in Oxford.

“Unfortunately, a lot of English undergraduates are being attracted to American universities or other British universities where it’s felt that there is a closer co-operation with the national teams.

Oxford are favourites to repeat their victory of last year.

“We are feeling good. We’ve had some good results in our fixtures and been producing some good speed. We are ready to go out and race,” said Oxford president Karl Hudspith.

Cambridge coach Steve Trapmore tasted defeat on his debut race last year and knows the Light Blues will need to be on top form to see off Oxford.

“We know Oxford’s very strong and will be very, very fast. We have to put it together on the day to be able to compete with the speed they are going to produce.”