COLIN Scott will launch out for Cambridge in the 154th Boat Race after being named at bow for the Light Blues at yesterday's traditional challenge by the Thames.

Selection for the former Royal Grammar School, Worcester, oarsman, in his fifth year at Cambridge, marks the end of a long-held dream for the 22-year-old natural sciences graduate after three previous appearances in the reserves race.

After two wins and one loss for the Goldie second crew against Oxford's Isis boat, Malvern-based Scott will be hoping to end his Light Blues career with victory in the big one on March 29.

Founded in 1829, the 179-year-old Boat Race is one of the world's oldest sporting events and the Worcestershire oarsman will be the centre of attention when more than 100 million TV viewers and radio listeners tune in to the event worldwide and 200,000 spectators cram the banks of the River Thames.

Oxford, last year's losers, threw down the gauntlet by challenging Cambridge yesterday just down-river of the race start at the Evolution Centre in Battersea Park, where the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships were in full swing.

Scott raced for the Great Britain juniors in the Couple de la Jeunesse European Team Championships while at RGS and went on to win the Iinternational Plate Eights at Henley with Cambridge in 2005.

He also won a bronze medal in the GB four at the Under 23 World Championships in Glasgow last year and was also in the GB eight at last September's European Championships in Poland.