IT MAY be only December, but preparations for the 150th Boat Race on March 28 are well under way. The crew of Maul managed to brighten up a murky afternoon on the Thames by beating Ruck in the Oxford Trial Eights yesterday, although an ailing Sam McLennan, Oxford’s Australian president, was just a spectator.

Maul won the toss and chose Surrey but Ruck took the initiative from the start and led by a length at the Mile. James Behrens, the umpire, was already busy with his warning flags — not surprisingly perhaps since the two coxswains, Peter Hackworth, of Maul, and Acer Nethercott, of Ruck, showed their “on the line” coxing expertise by steering Oxford to close victories in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

A rolling wash from a cruiser then upset Ruck more than Maul, who drew past to lead by inches at Hammersmith Bridge and a length at Barnes. Ruck refused to lie down, though, and were still only a length down at the finish. Oxford’s coaches seemed more than happy, understandably so since there was a lot of talent on show, not least from Henry Morris, David Livingston and Basil Dixon, the three returning Blues. Jack Tarrell and Colin Smith, former Great Britain juniors and Oxford newcomers, were given the stroking responsibility and both performed well.

MAUL: Bow: Ciaran Hayes (21, St Fachtna’s de la Salle, Skibbereen and Pembroke). 2: † Nick Tuppen (21, Cheltenham and Pembroke). 3: † Paul Holland (24, Lee High, Washington, Princeton and St Catherine’s). 4: Nick Walter (22, Winchester and Corpus Christi). 5: Peter Reed (22, Cirencester Deer Park and Wolfson). 6: David Livingston (20, Hampton and Christ Church). 7: *Henry Morris (20, Radley and Magdalen). Stroke: † Jack Tarrell (19, Abingdon and Christ Church). Cox: Peter Hackworth (21, St Paul’s and Oriel).

RUCK: Bow: Jonny Matthews (20, St Paul’s and Balliol). 2: Sam Parker (19, Radley and Magdalen). 3: † Andrew Stubbs (23, Queen Elizabeth HS, Hexham and Hertford). 4: Joel Scrogin (27, Brown University and Brasenose). 5: Montana Butsch (25, Loyola Academy, Pennsylvania University. and St Edmund Hall). 6: Basil Dixon (22, Bedford and Pembroke). 7: * Chris Kennelly (23, Piedmont High, University. of California, Berkeley and Oriel). Stroke: Colin Smith (20, Prince Edward, Harare and St Catherine’s). Cox: Acer Nethercott (26, Mark Hall Comprehensive and University).

* denotes Blue † denotes former Isis