Putney to Mortlake, Monday 2nd December 2002
The Oxford University trial eights promised much, the photographers of the presws posse telling newcomers "this lot specialise in close finishes, it'll be closer than the Boat Race itself" while sipping their pre-race coffee at London Rowing Club. "Safety" apparently won the toss and chose Surrey.
Both looked sparky as they warmed up, Matt Smith's "Health" perhaps rowing a little longer, but Scott Frendsen's "Safety" attacking the practice starts with plenty of gusto. But as they set off slightly behind the normal line (the stakeboats having been set for bows-on not stern-on), it was clear a mismatch had occurred. Despite sprinting off well above 40, "Safety" lost a couple of seats straight away, and this was exaggerated to half a length when they were warned by the umpire not to cut the first, Mortlake, corner. "Health" immediately capitalised, and settled rapidly into a good rhythm a couple of pips above "Safety", but rowing long.
It was all over bar the shouting by Barn Elms. Looking tense and under pressure, "Safety" found it impossible to reach a long and pushed out stroke in the rather bumpy cross-wind water, and bounced around in the sidewash as "Health" moved inexorably ahead, crossing to take the lagging crew's water well before the Milepost. From then on the gap just extended stage by stage, reaching 10 lengths by the finish line at 18:56 (Health) to 19:26 (Safety).
Safety Health Bow Ciaran Hayes Mark Vickers 2 Leo Smith Nick Walter 3 Henry Morris# Christopher Reeve# 4 David Livingston# Basil Dixon* 5 Matt Daggett John Adams# 6 Justin Hutchinson# Sam Parker 7 Sam McLennan Robin Bourne-Taylor* Stroke Scott Frendsen Matt Smith* Cox Acer Nethercott# Megan Patrick* = previous Blue, # = previous Isis