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• The 2009 Boat Race
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• The Weigh In
• Cambridge vs 'Super Eight'
• Oxford vs Molesey
• Cambridge vs Leander
• Crew Announcement
• Oxford vs University of Washington
• Duke of Edinburgh at CUBC
• The Squads
• Fours Head Report
• Trial Eights Report
• Trial VIIIs 2008 Video
• Media Guide 1
• Media Guide 2
• Location Map
• 2008 Boat Race Video
• Official Web Site

Oxford vs Molesey - 15th March 2009

The Molesey crew that raced Oxford over the weekend contained an impressive pedigree from The Netherlands as well as UK. The Molesey crew was stroked by Olympic Gold Medallist from Beijing, Andy Hodge, and contained two other former Oxford Blues, Acer Nethercott and Ben Smith.

1. Bow - Ben Smith (Oxford Blue Boat 2008)
2. James Foad
3. Mo Sbihi (GB U23 World Medallist)
4. Roel Haen (Netherlands 8+)
5. David Kuiper (Netherlands 8+)
6. Mitchel Steenman (Netherlands 8+)
7. Cameron Nichol (GB U23 World Medallist)

Str - Andrew Triggs-Hodge (Oxford Blue Boat 2008; Gold in GB 4+ at Beijing Olympics)

Cox - Acer Nethercott (Oxford Blue Boat 03, 04, 05; Silver in GB 8+ at Beijing Olympics)

This Molesey crew put up a good fight against Oxford, but the now well drilled Oxford eight stayed calm, focused on their rhythm and quickly put to bed the challenge from the experienced Molesey eight.

Molesey did over rate the Oxford boat off the start of the first piece, however Oxford stayed focused on their race and had taken a length lead within a minute and were nearly two lengths up by Fulham Football club.

Stroke of the Molesey eight, Olympic Champion and Oxford Blue, Andy Hodge was impressed with their performance commenting that Oxford "had a very solid base stroke and moved up a gear when they needed to".

By the Milepost, Oxford were three lengths up and reached Hammersmith Bridge with a four length advantage to finish at St Paul's 13 seconds ahead of Molesey.

The second piece began at Chiswick Steps with Molesey again over rating the Dark Blues, again Oxford kept in their boat and on their race plan and steadily moved ahead to gain half a length up by the Bandstand. By Barnes Bridge, Oxford had a moved further ahead and finished nearly three lengths up at Mortlake, around 11 seconds quicker than Molesey.

Chief Coach Sean Bowden said it had proved a valuable Fixture in which Oxford had shown good speed, particularly at the start of the first piece.