AS rowing enthusiasts converge on Henley for the annual week of competitions, former Hampton School pupil Matt Smith (1992-99), of Teddington, has been elected president of the Oxford University Boat Club.
Matt, who has rowed for the University in the last three boat races, follows in the oar strokes of Andy Hall (1962-69), Hampton's first Oxford president and several other Old Hamptonians who have served as presidents of Oxford and Cambridge clubs over almost 50 years of rowing at the boys' school on Hanworth Road.
The 20-year-old Smith stroked the victorious 2002 Oxford crew, coming from behind to win a thrilling race. That was Smith's third boat race. He became the youngest ever oarsman in the event when he was selected for the winning Oxford crew in 2000. He has also known the disappointment of defeat, stroking the crew that lost in 2001 after the controversial restart.
Matt won gold at the 1999 World Junior Championships as a member of the Great Britain junior coxed four.
July 8, 2002 17:00
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