OXFORD and Cambridge revealed their trial eights to the world last week - and the Dark Blues look to have a greater strength in depth for the 154th Boat Race on March 29 next year, writes Mike Rosewell.

New Oxford president Nick Brodie, the cox with Abingdon roots is one of four returning old Blues.

The others are Michal Plotkowiak from Poland, 2007 president Robin Ejsmond-Frey and Canadian Andrew Wright.

Ejsmond-Frey and Andrew Wright were in the winning 'Shirts' crew, while Plotkowiak and Brodie rowed for the losing 'Skins'.

Of their three full internationals, young Briton Oli Moore was in the winning crew.

American Mike Wherley and German Jan Herzog, with a hatful of international performances and medals behind them, suffered along with their their president The contest, over the Putney to Mortlake course, was a tight one until the approach to Hammersmith Bridge before 'Shirts' - on Surrey - surged ahead to win by 2 lengths The time was nearly a minute faster than the Cambridge trial the previous day, a race which was close until much later in the course.

Recorded times were not totally relevant, with Oxford clearly on a stronger tide and starting somewhat shorter on the start than Cambridge Meanwhile, Moore and his 'Shirts' crewmate Ben Smith finished tenth in the men's heavyweight pairs in the British trials at Boston on Saturday.

Fran Houghton, of Wheatley, came seventh in the closely contested women's sculls.

Wallingford's international lightweights were well placed, Paul Mattick finishing eighth and Andrea Dennis and Helen Casey achieving second and fourth places.