WITH the Boat Race less than ten weeks away, it was announced this week that, for the first time, Oxford Brookes University be involved in the build-up, writes John Wiggins.

Brookes will take on Cambridge on the Tideway on February 21 and then Oxford University three weeks later.

Brookes earned this opportunity having established themselves as the pre-eminent ‘other’ university boat club in the UK.

It remains to be seen how they will stack up against the two traditional rowing universities.

Another first is that Boat Race sponsors BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management are donating the naming rights so that the men’s and women’s events on March 27 will be named the Cancer Research UK Boat Races for 2016 and 2017.

Cancer Research UK were named as Boat Race charity partners back in October.

Oxford head coach Sean Bowden said: “The Boat Race has its own history of loss to cancer with Daniel Topolski and Harry Mahon, amongst others, still in both clubs' hearts. Joining forces with Cancer Research UK to help beat cancer sooner is something that the OUBC is very proud to be doing."

Meanwhile, racing for local clubs has been delayed pending safer conditions on the rivers.

However, our schools are building up to competition in early February with a wealth of coaching and international rowing experience.

Abingdon School continue with 1st VIII coach Ali Brown under the leadership of director of rowing, Mark Earnshaw, while leading on the water is their captain, Tom Digby.

As he works towards selection for his third World Rowing Junior Championships and add to, if not improve on, his two silver medals, Digby has set the bar high for his squad with a world record over 5000m on the Concept2 indoor rowing machine.

John Gearing will again coach Radley College's VIII, with captains Miles Rowse and James Brocklebank-Fowler leading the senior and junior squads.

Their coaching team is bolstered by GB U23 international sculler, Mikey Mottram.

Magdalen College School’s head of rowing, Jane Taylor, is also appreciating the arrival of Welsh coach, Greg Atkins.

At Headington Girls School, Ryan Demaine has been promoted to director of sports with head of rowing Chris Hermes. Their captain is Lydia Currie.

St Edward’s School have appointed two captains – Charlie Gosling and Tilly Catlin, a silver medallist from the the GB Coupe de la Jeunesse team.Master in charge Peter Rudge is happy to retain the services of 1st coach, Jonny Singfield. Tristan Mayglothling joins the coaching team as head of girls rowing.