Oxford University’s bid to win their third Xchanging Boat Race in a row this century began with the formal challenge and weigh-in on Monday, when Cambridge emerged marginally the heavier crew, writes Rachel Quarrell.

“We’ve come together well, there’s a sense of purpose, but there’s still work to do,” said Oxford chief coach Sean Bowden, who has now won seven of the last ten races.

With Cambridge claiming to be much faster than last year, he is expecting a close battle on April 3.

“Our chances are good, but it looks tight, there’s no clear fav-ourite,” he added.

This year’s Dark Blues crew includes three Englishmen, and five other nationalities, including the Dutch president and only returning Blue, Sjoerd Hamburger.

Stroke-man is former Henley resident Charles Burkitt, a British under-23 international medallist who is aiming for the senior national squad and came eighth in last month’s time trial.

“Last year’s Oxford boat is a good benchmark, and a few weeks ago we matched their times,” said Burkitt.

His tactical assistant in the stern, cox Adam Barhamand, has been promoted from the winning 2009 Isis crew, along with Martin Walsh, and junior international Ben My-ers, who claimed a place after substituting for an ill clubmate.

The engine room includes American twins Tyler and Came-ron Winklevoss, known internationally for successfully suing the founder of Facebook over ownership of the original concept. The pair rowed together at the Beijing Olympics, and are now studying at Oxford’s Said Business School.

Last weekend the Oxford oarsmen had a useful work-out against an under-23 crew including several Oxford Brookes oarsmen.

If the high river levels downstream subside before this Saturday, the newly chosen Blues will race the Reading University Head as defending champions, before starting their last month of training for the big event.

BOAT RACE CREWS.

Oxford: bow B Myers (Exeter) 15st 2lb 8oz, 2 M Walsh (Green Templeton) 13.9.13, 3 T Winklevoss (Christ Church) 15.9.9, 4 C Winklevoss (Christ Church) 15.5.3, 5 S Hamburger* (Oriel) 15.10.14, 6 M Evans (University) 14.5.8, 7 S Gawlik (Kellogg) 14.7.12, stroke C Burkitt (Wolfson) 14.3.5, cox A Barhamand (Wolfson) 8.5.15.

Cambridge: bow R Weitemeyer* (St Edmund’s) 14.0.4, 2 F Gill (Hughes Hall) 15.8.11, 3 C Sternal (Hughes Hall) 14.2.2, 4 P McClelland (Pembroke) 15.13.1, 5 G Nash (St Catharine’s) 15.5.3, 6 D McEachern* (Hughes Hall) 15.12.10, 7 D Rasmussen (Hughes Hall) 13.4.9, stroke H Pelly* (St Edmund’s) 15.2.2, cox E Ran-dolph (Peterhouse) 8.9.0).* = old Blue