Rowing: English cox is worth his weight in gold

Barking his orders like any other 'little Napoleon' in the men's eight at the rowing nationals yesterday was one with a distinguished past - and it wasn't only because of his gentrified English accent.

Peter Hackworth lined up with the Auckland crew yesterday with the distinction of having coxed an Oxford side that not only deposed a red-hot favourite Cambridge boat in 2002 but also became the first crew in 50 years to come from wide and behind on the last bend.

"It was a special Boat Race," says Hackworth reminiscing about an event that draws 400,000 to line the banks of the Thames in London each year. "You train for six hours a day, six days a week for six or seven months, which is a huge effort to put into one race.

"It's sport down to its basic element with nine guys trying to beat the shit out of each other for 16 minutes in cold weather in the middle of March for no real gain. It's not about money, it's about being able to say you won The Boat Race."

Hackworth can say that for the rest of his life and it's part of the reason why he's in New Zeland having answered an advertisement on a website looking for a rowing coach at Auckland's King's College.

The 22-year-old was soon roped in to cox the Auckland eight at the nationals and he was also wired by New Zealand Rowing during yesterday's race so they can learn how a world-class cox operates.

New Zealand Rowing want to put together a top eight to compete at the Olympics in an event they won at the 1972 Munich Games.

Hackworth says yesterday's race could be his last. While he's not sure of the future, he certainly knew where to go after yesterday's race. "I've been ticking down the hours before I can tuck into a Big Mac and fries," the 55kg former Great Britain under-23 coxswain said.