A FORMER King's School pupil has received a late call-up to cox the Oxford University crew in the 152nd Boat Race next month.

Worcester Rowing Club member Seb Pearce, who is from Bromsgrove, was originally picked to cox Oxford's second boat, Isis, but in an unusual step, head coach Sean Bowden decided to promote him to the first boat - just two days after the official announcement of the squads was made.

Original cox of the first boat, Nick Brodie, will now cox the Isis crew when the race takes place on April 2.

Pearce, aged 23, who is studying for a Masters in Financial Economics at the Sad Business School in Oxford as a member of Pembroke College, is delighted to have been given a chance in the first boat.

He said: "We have been training hard all year and I was delighted to get moved up to the Blue Boat. Both crews are of a very high standard and there are a lot of internationals on both sides, but I am confident we have got what it takes.

"You never quite know what will happen, but I believe we will come out on top. I have had a lot of support from Worcester Rowing Club and I still have a lot of very good friends up there."

Bowden said it had been a tough decision to change cox at the 11th hour, but Pearce's experience meant he got the nod in the end.

He said: "With both coxswains being of a very high standard the Blue Boat selection has always been close run, but I have been very impressed with the progress Seb has made in training.

"Combining this with his extensive knowledge of the Tideway, Seb will really add value to a crew determined not to leave any stone unturned in its search for victory in this year's Boat Race.

The decision was made after a period of extensive assessment over the last six weeks and how each might progress in the run up to the race."

The 5ft 6in cox first took an interest in rowing while he was a pupil at The King's School, Worcester and then in 1998 he won gold at the helm of the Junior Women's Eight at the National Championships, as well as coxing the Junior Women's Eight at the Home Internationals.

After leaving The King's School, Pearce spent four years at Imperial College, where he gained invaluable experience on the Tideway, along with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering.

He was placed fifth at the World University Rowing Championships coxing the GB Men's Eight in 2002 and won the first Men's Student Fours at Henley Royal Regatta in 2004.