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Another day, another Trial Eights. The Rowing Service's special correspondent reports again from the Tideway Just over 24hrs after Oxford had put on their end-of-term showcase for the watching flotilla of Old Blues and rowing journalists, two matched Cambridge University boats took to the water and similarly raced over the Boat Race course. Competing as Steve Fairburn and John Goldie - names of two eminent figures from the club's past - they may not have produced a race as close as the Oxford encounter, but it showcased just the same attributes and character traits. The 152nd Boat Race next April looks like an enticing affair. Like Oxford, Cambridge have an extraordinary level of talent trialling for them this year. Both of Wednesday's crews were stroked by British Olympians: Tom James in Goldie and the returning Kieron West in Fairbairn. James stroked the British eight in Athens; West was at Cambridge as an undergraduate before winning gold in the British eight at the Sydney Olympic Games. Returning as President of CUBC in 2001 to do a PGCE, West is now back for yet another Boat Race in 2006 as he embarks on his doctorate this year. Behind these two Brits sat a number of proven internationals. James was backed up by Kip McDaniel, the former Harvard stroke and Canadian international, and Thorsten Engelmann, a member of the German world-record-holding coxless four. West was setting the rhythm for returning Blue and German international Sebastian Schulte, and fellow Blues Luke Walton and President Tom Edwards. An impressive set of line-ups. The water was much less benign to the Cambridge crews than it had been to Oxford the day before, and a stiff headwind down the Milepost straight was added to by some highly unhelpful PLA launch wash: the crews had to contend with classic Tideway rough-water conditions. Goldie won the toss and chose Surrey, and that appeared to be the universally-favoured station when Fairbairn lined themselves up on Middlesex but pointing across to the other side of the river. Thus heading towards Surrey off the start, Fairbairn cox Peter Rudge was warned very early on by vigilant umpire Simon Harris, but even after straightening up they continued to crowd Goldie coxed by Joe Ghory down the line of moored boats, and enjoyed the lion's share of the stream as a result. After only 30 seconds of racing, the two crews hit wash from the Harbour Master's launch, but Goldie bore the brunt of it. Fairbairn, who had already begun to inch ahead, took a couple of seats instantaneously. As the two crews moved on to the Fulham bend, the water roughed up considerably and West's crew seemed to cope the better. By the Milepost Fairbairn had used their bend to good advantage and had broken away to lead by over a length. In an uncanny repetition of the race of the day before, as the two crews came to the end of the Milepost straight the Middlesex boat was clear-water up and both crews were over on the Surrey side of the river. As the Surrey bend began, the Umpire similarly started to warn the comfortably-leading Middlesex boat against moving in front of the Surrey crew. And, just as the day before, the coxes both responded by skidding themselves across the tide and moving now to the Middlesex side of the river. Goldie, just like the winning Oxford crew the day before, never gave up nor conceded defeat. But despite war-cries and pushes and some impressively neat rowing in the tailwind down Chiswick Eyot, the gap was never rendered small enough for West and his crew to be seriously troubled. James' rating of 32 that only came up to 33 whenever they took a move no doubt didn't help, especially given that Fairbairn out in front were rating a more realistic 34. Perhaps water taken on board in the first half-minute was weighing them down. Despite closing up as both crews encountered yet more ridiculously heavy launch wash just past the crossing, Goldie remained behind and crossed the finish line some eight seconds adrift of the victors. Boasting if anything a marginally stronger squad than Oxford, Cambridge produced two strong, accomplished-looking crews for their trials, Goldie in particular conforming to the Cambridge stereotype entrenched over the past ten years of the polished, technically skilled and articulate crew. It is impossible to compare the two squads on the basis of two separate Trial VIIIs races, but what can be said with confidence is that both universities look set to produce two accomplished and Boat Race savvy boats come 2nd April. If recent years are a guide, these two crews are likely to turn out to be of similar speed, and thus there is every reason to expect that the Boat Race this year will be just as exciting as has come to be expected of late. What is also certain is that with squads as strong as these from which to draw the two Blue Boats, the 152nd instalment looks set to underscore the Boat Race's standing as a modern-day international sporting contest of the highest order. Gareth Clark
'Steve Fairbairn' Posn: Name, College (Country of origin) Bow: C Dietz, St. Catharine's (USA) 2: I Coveny, Hughes Hall (USA) 3: S Pearson, Jesus (South Africa) 4: D Wyper, St. Edmund's (USA) 5: L Walton*, St. Edmund's (USA) 6: T Edwards* (President), Gonville & Caius (Australia) 7: S Schulte*§, Gonville & Caius (Germany) Str: K West*§, Pembroke (GBR) cox: P Rudge*§, Hughes Hall (GBR)
'John Goldie' * = denotes former Blue # = denotes former Goldie § = Olympic or world medallist
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