Cambridge have heavier crew for 160th Boat Race
Cambridge may have unveiled a heaver crew at the weigh-in for the 160th Boat Race weigh-in but defending champions Oxford have one with plenty of experience.
Three Olympians, including London 2012 bronze medallist Constantine Louloudis, filled the Dark Blue boat, which weighed in at an average of 89.7-kilograms and a 717.8kg total for the April 6 event.
Not to be intimidated by conceding more than 2kg a man to their Light Blue opponents, Karl Hudspith, Oxford's third man and in his fourth successive Boat Race, sized up Ivo Dawkins by facing his opposite number as he stepped on to the scales.
"Everyone motivates themselves in different ways and Karl can be quite confrontational," London's Louloudis said.
The 20-year-old Dawkins was said to be unfazed.
Cambridge president Steve Dudek said: "Ivo is about as cool a customer as I could ever hope to row with."
Cambridge coach Steve Trapmore added: "It's all very well sizing people up, you've got to be able to back it up."
Cambridge are optimistic of responding from their 2013 loss and Dudek was referring to Dawkins and Helge Gruetjen when he added "there's a lot of freakish natural talent either side of me".
Trapmore is pleased with the composition of his crew as Cambridge bid to win after last tasting success in the controversial 2012 edition, which featured a restart following swimming protestor Trenton Oldfield's intervention.
"The team's come together really well," Trapmore added.
"There's nowhere near the depth of experience that Oxford have, but I'm always confident."
Click below to watch a video report on preparations for the Boat Race