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NICK Brodie admits he feared his Boat Race adventure was over at the finish line of last year's event - claiming it was the Swindon Advertiser that reignited his dreams.

The Oxford cox revealed the thought of returning for a fourth year in the University Boat Race had never crossed his mind, until WE asked the question just minutes after the 2007 heartbreak.

For the Shrivenham 21-year-old the race has been a bitter-sweet experience, having yet to taste personal victory after two reserve races and last year's main event.

The triple defeat looked set to end his burning ambition of one day guiding his crew to victory on the Thames, until the idea of a post graduate course dawned on him.

He said: "It was a terrible feeling last year when we crossed the line behind Cambridge and I thought that as it, it was over.

"It had never crossed my mind before that we would lose and when we did the realisation that that was it suddenly hit me. It hurt.

"Funnily enough you were one of the first people I saw after the race and I guess it was then that I thought you know what, I can do this again'.

"I can still remember the moment you asked me if I was going to come back next year. That was definitely the moment I thought maybe I can still win the Boat Race."

Brodie has returned this year with added responsibility, after being OUBC president, but he senses a determination among his crew members to make sure the dark blue boat crosses the line first.

He said: "Hopefully this is fourth time lucky. We have a great crew this year and I am confident with just a few days to go we can put out a good race.

"I think our team spirit is really excellent this year.

"It is definitely the best I have experienced in all my time associated with the Boat Race."

In the past Brodie has been charged with accusations of cockiness, a natural trait for a cox, but he admits his role has somewhat changed this time round.

He said: "Our coach has said we are all very quiet but that is generally when we are out in public or with the coaching team.

"When we are on our own we are just nine great friends. We are great mates and really enjoy each other's company - it has been really good fun living in a house together in London.

"Normally it is the cox's role to be quite chirpy and be quite lively to keep spirits up but I don't think I need to liven these guys up. If anything I need to calm them down.

"They are going to be more than up for this on the day that is obvious.

"For all the laughs we have when we are training or with the coaches everyone is deadly serious and that shows what it means to us."

8:34am Friday 28th March 2008

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