FORMER Monmouth School steersman Laurence Harvey is set to have his hand on the tiller in the world's most famous rowing race when he launches out in the cox's seat for Oxford against Cambridge in the 160th Boat Race next month.

The Old Monmothian from Chepstow won this year's high pressure seat at the official crew naming in London on Monday (10th March) after guiding Oxford's reserve crew to victory over Cambridge's Goldie last year.

And he will be the man in the spotlight when the two boats come under starters' orders at Putney on Saturday 6th April, as he tries to take the best tidal water from the Light Blues without putting his crew into a potentially disastrous clash of oars.

His former Monmouth School coach Robin Fletcher, who also oversees the Wales junior team, said: "He's a cool, calm, collected guy, and I've no doubt he'll make a big difference to Oxford's chances come race day.

"He started with us when he was 12, and really blossomed in the sixth form, steering our 1st 8 to two National Schools' medals. We're absolutely delighted for him.

"We've seen a host of our rowers go onto GB honours over the years, including Olympic silver medalists Colin Moynihan and Tom Lucy, but Laurence will be just the fourth Old Monmothian in the Boat Race's 185-year history."

WM Warlow lost for Cambridge in 1880, Paul Marsden won for Oxford in 1974 and future British Olympic chief Lord Moynihan steered the Dark Blues to victory in 1977.

Fellow Chepstow man Robin Williams – coach of GB's Olympic champion women's pair and 11-time chief Cambridge coach – will be doing his best to foil Harvey's chances as part of the Light Blues backroom team.

But the 21-year-old Physics student's Dark Blues are packed with power, with GB Olympic bronze medal 8s strokeman Constantine Louloudis sat right in front of Harvey and Canadian Olympic gold and silver medalist Malcolm Howard at five.

The Oxford crew also includes London 2012 Olympic bronze medal Kiwi sculler Storm Uru at bow, US senior international Michael Di Santo and GB world U23 medallist Karl Hudspith.

More than 250,000 spectators will squeeze along the banks of the 4 1/4-mile race to watch the two crews go head to head, with a worldwide TV and radio audience of more than 100 million tuning in.

Oxford have had their challenges ahead of this year's BNY Mellon Boat Race, which dates back to 1829, having to abandon their boathouse in Wallingford due to flooding with most training taking place at GB Rowing's home at Caversham or at the Dorney site of the 2012 Olympic regatta.

But a fixture on the Boat Race's Tideway stretch of the Thames at the weekend showed they will be a force to reckon with as they demolished Germany's U23 crew.

Racing 2 1/2 miles from the Boat Race start at Putney to Chiswick Eyot, Harvey steered the Dark Blues into an early lead rating 47 strokes a minute compared to the Germans' 43, hitting the minute mark with a 1/4L advantage.

The Germans were warned by Boat Race umpire Richard Phelps three times and as they adjusted to steer away, Harvey called Oxford to take advantage on the outside of the first bend, and they quickly had clear water.

At Harrods six minutes in, Oxford's lead was 2 1/2L lengths heading into their bend, stretching out to five lengths at the line after some 10 minutes racing.

The second piece from The Crossing, just below Chiswick Steps, saw the crews change stations and Oxford coach Sean Bowden give the Germans a length start. Again Oxford got off slightly quicker, pulling back half of the German advantage within the first 30 strokes.

The Germans were tenacious though, keeping the rate at 37 and made a race of to Barnes Bridge where the lead was down to a canvas, before Harvey called for a huge Oxford move that took a length out of the Germans in 20 strokes before they charged clear to win by 4L.