OXFORD cox Nick Brodie will not let his lack of years daunt him as he bids to pass down his experience of the University Boat Race tradition, writes ANDY CRYER.

After three years of personal Boat Race heartbreak, Brodie, pictured above, has taken on the role of president this time round as he bids to end a chapter in his life in style.

The 21-year-old from Bourton, near Shrivenham, took part in the traditional president's challenge at Battersea yesterday, challenging Cambridge's Dan O'Shaughnessy to a race on March 29.

Once accepted, both crews were announced for the main event with Brodie confident a tighter-knit team spirit could finally bring him that elusive Boat Race victory.

The Geography graduate may be giving away many years to the group of Olympians and experienced oarsman in his boat but he believes his unparalelled experience of the race itself brings with it added responsibility.

He said: "Being president is fairly similar to the role of the cox anyway as it has everything to do with a leadership role.

"What I have tried to do is draw on my experience of the last four years in the squad as there is only one other guy in the squad who has been at Oxford this long.

"Funnily enough we are the youngest but we are also the two who know exactly what the race means to so many people. I believe it is down to me to pass on that to the other guys."

Olympic rowers Mike Wherley, from America, and Germany's Jan Herzog, were yesterday named in Brodie's dark blue boat but Brodie insists they arrived at Oxford with plenty still to learn.

"These guys are legends in rowing," said Brodie. "But I feel that for the rowers that come here on a year's course, to take part in the race, it is hard for them to really feel part of it all.

"As president I have tried to get them to buy into the whole Oxford system and to understand the proud tradition associated with what we are all doing.

"People come on these one-year scholarships from Harvard, Yale, all the best universities in the world, but they never go away feeling they are Oxford. I get the impression they feel like they are just on loan for a year.

"So I was looking to get a real togetherness in the crew and I think that has worked well."