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| Wrexham rower's boat race dream | Wrexham rower's boat race dream |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| An engineering student from north Wales is hoping to help Cambridge paddle to victory over Oxford in the 153rd University Boat Race. | |
| Tom James, from Coedpoeth, Wrexham, who is president of Cambridge's boat club, has been practising with the rest of the crew on the River Dee. | |
| Oxford have won the last two races but Tom hopes to graduate with a victory. | Oxford have won the last two races but Tom hopes to graduate with a victory. |
| He said he and his team mates felt part of a "special club," adding: "The history is always with you." | He said he and his team mates felt part of a "special club," adding: "The history is always with you." |
| The Cambridge crew made their final preparations for Saturday's competition at a team training camp in Chester. | The Cambridge crew made their final preparations for Saturday's competition at a team training camp in Chester. |
| Tom said it was a break from the term-time routine which can involve a two-hour weights workout before breakfast, and 11 training sessions per week. | Tom said it was a break from the term-time routine which can involve a two-hour weights workout before breakfast, and 11 training sessions per week. |
| He said: "It's very hard but that's what the training programme demands. | He said: "It's very hard but that's what the training programme demands. |
| Firm friends | Firm friends |
| "The crews we put out are world class and the athletes we get are world class, and they also have aspirations after that." | "The crews we put out are world class and the athletes we get are world class, and they also have aspirations after that." |
| The boat race creates about 20 minutes of high drama every year and splits its followers firmly into two camps. | The boat race creates about 20 minutes of high drama every year and splits its followers firmly into two camps. |
| The boat race crew practised on the River Dee near Chester | The boat race crew practised on the River Dee near Chester |
| Tom said the discipline of the competition had defined his years at university but had also brought some firm friends. | Tom said the discipline of the competition had defined his years at university but had also brought some firm friends. |
| He said: "It does impinge on your social life, you don't go out and get drunk the whole time. | He said: "It does impinge on your social life, you don't go out and get drunk the whole time. |
| "We still have a lot of fun and, the friends you make in rowing circles, you're lifelong buddies afterwards. | "We still have a lot of fun and, the friends you make in rowing circles, you're lifelong buddies afterwards. |
| "You realise you are part of something and you're making history as it's going on, and you're adding to it. | "You realise you are part of something and you're making history as it's going on, and you're adding to it. |
| "And you know when you come back in 50 years, your legacy is going to be there, your name is going to be up on the board in the captains' room." | "And you know when you come back in 50 years, your legacy is going to be there, your name is going to be up on the board in the captains' room." |
| The race on the River Thames from Putney to Mortlake will take place on Saturday 7 April at 1630 BST. | The race on the River Thames from Putney to Mortlake will take place on Saturday 7 April at 1630 BST. |