Dutchman Sjoerd Hamburger has been appointed president of Oxford University Boat Club for the 2009/2010 season.

The tall Dutchman, from Utrecht is the first non-native English-speaker to be elected to the role.

This year, he became only the second Dutch rower to compete in the Boat Race, which cuased great interest in Holland A former single sculler, who was one of the tallest ever to take part in the Race at 6ft 9ins, he is reading Educational Research Methodology at Oriel College.

"It is a great honour and I am very proud," said Sjoerd. "I think it's a great job and I'm really looking forward to it."

History student Deaglan McEachern, an American from New England, will lead the Cambridge effort to win the Boat Race for the first time in three years.

Both new presidents are 26-years-old and race at No 5.