Organizers of 153rd Boat Race warn to mind language

Cambridge and Oxford crews will muster not only physical strength during Saturday's Boat Race but also have to watch their language.

Photo: Organizers of 153rd Boat Race warn to mind language

Organizers warned the oarsmen not to swear in the 153rd meeting of the two universities after bad language was heard during last year's live TV broadcast.

They didn't stipulate which language, however.

Saturday's race will feature 12 non-British rowers - the most in the event's history.

The nine-man Oxford crew includes rowers from Poland and Croatia, while Cambridge has two Germans.

One of them -Thorsten Engelmann of Cambridge - will be the heaviest rower to feature in the 6.8-kilometer (4.25-mile) race along London's twisting River Thames.

The German weighed in at 110.8 kilograms (244.3 pounds).

Cambridge will deploy the more experienced and heavier crew in its bid to prevent Oxford from winning its third straight race.

The combined weight of the Light Blue crew, which also includes one American and two Canadians, was 785.6 kilograms (1,731.9 pounds).

Oxford, featuring four Americans and a Canadian, weighed 750.8 kilograms (1,655.2 pounds).

Cambridge leads the series 78-73, with one dead heat in 1877, and is the 8-15 favorite with bookmaker Ladbrokes. The heavier crew has won two-thirds of the races.

"The weight won't matter if we can't convert it into pulling power," Cambridge team president Tom James said.

After three failed races, James is hoping for more luck in his final attempt.

"We've learned from our mistakes, made a few changes and will take a few risks but the drive to win is there regardless," the British Olympian added.

While Cambridge has five returning oarsman, the Dark Blue boat will have just one rower with race experience - Robin Ejsmond-Frey.

Oxford coach Sean Bowden believes his physically strong crew can overcome this disadvantage.

"It's difficult in that we have to produce a boat of the same standard as the last two and have very different people to do it," said Bowden, who has lost just twice in seven years. "It's my 10th year and I think we've been the underdogs nearly every year."

Oxford won last year's race in choppy conditions by five lengths.