A former student at Monmouth School for Boys will be coxing the University of Oxford in this year’s Boat Race on the River Thames.
Jack Tottem, (pictured, front) is a former Captain of Boats, Deputy Head Boy and 1st VIII cox at Monmouth.
Jack, 20, from Devauden, near Chepstow, is now studying History at Brasenose College and will be making his debut for the Dark Blue men’s VIII against the University of Cambridge on Sunday 3rd April, starting at 3.23pm.
More than 250,000 spectators, on the banks of the Thames, will watch the crews racing between Putney and Mortlake on the Championship Course for the 167th Men’s Boat Race.
Headmaster at Monmouth School for Boys, Mr Simon Dorman, said: “I am so pleased for Jack; his selection is richly deserved. It is also a great testament to all the brilliant rowing coaching he had while at Monmouth.”
Master in Charge of Rowing at Monmouth School for Boys, Mr John Griffiths, said: “This a huge achievement for Jack, a cox, to gain such recognition.
“We are very proud of Jack and his selection is recognition of his talent and the progress that Monmouth School for Boys has made in rowing over the last few years.”
In August 2019, Jack won a gold and silver medal for Great Britain at the prestigious Coupe de la Jeunesse in Corgeno, Italy.
Jack also had the honour of captaining the GB boys’ team and carried the flag at the opening ceremony.
The Monmouth student was joined in Italy by school coach, Mr Paul Williams, whose GB crew also performed well, winning gold and silver medals.
The Boat Race has a unique place in the British psyche, attracting the interest of millions of people worldwide.
The Boat Race was one of the first large scale events to be cancelled in 2020, and was relocated to Ely last year.
The race is one of the highest profile rowing events in the world and the annual focal point of a rivalry that spans at least 185 years.
This year, the men’s Boat Race looks set to be another world-class event, showcasing the very best student athletes in the world’s best-known Varsity match.
