Fred Gill, front facing, prepares for the University Boat Race

A Shropshire rower is bracing himself for the biggest challenge of his life when he leads Cambridge in the annual University Boat Race from Putney to Mortlake on the River Thames.

Fred Gill, 24, of Shrewsbury, who is a member of Pengwern Boat Club, will lead the Light Blues in the key rhythm-setting seat in a boat containing seven world under-23 championship oarsmen.

And with gale force winds predicted, he believes they have what it takes to blow their Dark Blue rivals away.

Mr Gill said: “The bookies are backing Oxford, but I’m comfortable with that. We are down as underdogs, but I genuinely believe we’re going to win.

“It is looking like the weather could be apocalyptic, and we’ve been practicing on the Thames in bad conditions this week.”

The Kenley oarsman was elevated to the stroke seat in a re-shuffle two weeks ago, before going close against a crew containing Olympic champions Tom James and Andy Triggs Hodge.

Confidence

And a 1-1 result on the Boat Race course with the Czech Republic’s eight containing Olympic silver medal singler Ondrej Synek last week, boosted the Light Blues’ confidence.

But a final switch this week, moving US world under-23 champion Derek Rasmussen into the seven seat behind Mr Gill has provided the last piece of the jigsaw, claimed the former Shrewsbury School pupil.

“There’s more time to the stroke and a real rhythm. Before we were chasing it and being too aggressive. It’s really coming to the boil now,” he said.

“I think we have nailed it with this change, bringing Derek up the boat, and we have had some great outings.

“Against Tom James and company and the Czechs, we were quicker away, but it wasn’t sustainable for four miles. This change has really worked.”

On winning the stroke seat, he added: “It was always in the back of my mind that I fancied it, but Henry Pelly seemed to have claimed it until Cambridge president Deaglan McEachern swapped sides a couple of weeks ago, and I was put up to stroke.

“That’s where I love being, and when you think of all the great Cambridge strokemen going back nearly two centuries, some amazing rowers, it’s a massive honour to step into their shoes.”

The race is live on BBC1 with the start at 4.30pm.

By Andrew Morris