Campbell was given a last-minute instruction by Bill Barry, his coach, four times winner of the event between 1963 and 1966. “My name is on this trophy,” Barry said. “I want your name on it today.”

Campbell took an immediate lead, rating 44 stokes per minute against a strong field that also featured Stephen Rowbotham, Ian Lawson and Mark Hunter, all senior Britain internationals. Rowbotham’s challenge evaporated soon after the start when he clashed with Alex Gregory, the Britain Under-23 rower. Rowbotham never looked happy and stopped just before Hammersmith Bridge. It was revealed subsequently that he had been suffering from food poisoning.

Meanwhile, Lawson, the three times former champion, was keeping the pressure on Campbell. Lawson was one second behind Campbell at the Mile, but was lagging at Hammersmith Bridge with Hunter closing. “I think I picked up something on my fin around Harrods and the boat was veering towards the Surrey Bank,” Lawson said.

In the event, Hunter, sculling well in windy conditions that suited heavyweights rather than lightweights, moved into second place after Barnes Bridge, but Campbell was never threatened.

Campbell, 23, who won the World Cup as a single sculler this year, was clearly delighted with his domestic success after coming fourth in 2003. “It has taken me two years to prepare for it properly,” he said. “I love being involved in these traditional events.”

His face revealed this when he received the trophy from Bert Bushnell, the oldest surviving winner and a 1948 Olympic gold medal-winner.

Both Jürgen Grobler, the national coach, and Mark Earnshaw, the national sculling coach, had been keen to emphasise the importance of this event. In conditions that produced head wind, cross wind and no wind over the 4¼ miles, they had every challenge thrown at them.

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