The Weigh in

On 19 March The Boat Race crews weighed in at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham. Oxford Blue Boat weighed an average of 15st 9lb 13oz (99.7kg) the heaviest crew in Boat Race history - three pounds a man heavier than the previous record (set by Oxford in 2005).

Cambridge also weighed in as the their heaviest ever crew- topping the 15 stone barrier by one pound (96.1kg).

Oxford may be heavier, taller, and more experienced but their coach Sean Bowden - involved in his 12th Boat Race - is taking nothing for granted. "The weight is not an issue for us and the crews are pretty evenly matched size-wise. It is a question of getting it right on the day".

Colin Smith, the Oxford President, is the lightest man in the Dark Blue crew at 13st.9lb (87kg), but he has an Olympic silver medal to his credit. "I expected us to be the heavier crew and I am confident we will translate this to speed on Boat Race day."

Interestingly, the Goldie crew - the Cambridge reserves - were heavier at 15st 5lbs (97.9kg) than their Blue Boat. When asked to comment, Cambridge President Henry Pelly said: Goldie are heavier than the Cambridge Blue Boat, yet man for man, we are quicker than Goldie."

Cambridge's Kiwi coach, Chris Nilsson - in his first stint with Cambridge after coaching at Oxford 10 years ago - seems unfazed by the difference in crew weights. "The crew has a spirit and camaraderie second to none," he said.

Oxford's heaviest man is American Ben Harrison at 16st.10 lb (106.4kg), while Australian Hardy Cubasch is the heaviest Light Blue at 16st. 4lb. The tallest man in the Race, Dutchman Sjoerd Hamburger weighed in at 16st.(101.8 kg).