New leaders set high hopes for Cambridge as Boat Race countdown begins
Both men's and women's crews had mixed results in this year's races
Cambridge rowers are setting their eyes on a fifth straight win over Oxford in the men's Boat Race as the countdown to next year's contest begins.
While the women's crew look to bounce back from a first defeat to their arch rivals on the famous River Thames course in 10 years.
Both sides will also be gunning to get their hands on two new trophies for the 2027 edition of the event.
And for Cambridge, both crews will look to reign supreme whilst being led by new presidents.
"You can't think about what's happened in these past years," Simon Hatcher, Cambridge men's president, said.
"It's just something you have to put out of your mind and focus on the now, getting all the pieces we do on the water right so we can be in the best position we possibly can be."
Becoming a role model
Hatcher takes on the presidency having won back to back races with the Blue Boat in the last two years.
After starting rowing at 13 at Oregon Rowing Unlimited in Portland, USA, the American went on to study at Brown University in the States before moving to Cambridge to study a PhD in engineering.
And Hatcher hopes he can use his recent success to his teammates' advantage.
"I like to put a huge emphasis on getting the little things right as a group," he added.
"If I can be a role model for how to approach the day-to-day (demands) for someone who may not have as much experience, that's what it's all about."
So far, Cambridge have won the men's boat race 89 times to Oxford's 81, while in the women's event, the Blue Boat (49) have beaten their rivals 18 more times (31).
Eloise Etherington will lead Cambridge out for the event's centenary year, having twice competed in the women's reserve race.
The British rower - in her third year on an undergraduate natural sciences course - represented Great Britain at under 19 level and has won several national titles on her way to competing for her current team.
Etherington believes after that loss to Oxford back in April, the Cambridge squad won't be fazed.
"We know how to win and we've had some incredible depth in the past few years with a few clean sweeps; we've had great success throughout the squad and if we can keep supporting each other, we'll see what happens on Boat Race day," she said.
"We've got a great squad and we've got many events throughout the years as well as the Boat Race, so we'll be looking to show how strong this squad is."
The 2027 Boat Races will take place on Sunday, April 11 at 3.40pm and 4.40pm.