Acer Nethercott

Acer Gary Nethercott (born 28 November 1977 in Newmarket, England) is a British coxwain, Olympic silver medallist and double Boat Race winner.

Education

Having attended Mark Hall Comprehensive and Broxbourne School in Essex, [cite web|url=http://www.olympics.org.uk/beijing2008/AthleteProfile.aspx?id=6776|title=Acer Nethercott|publisher=Team GB Beijing 2008|accessdate=2008-08-24] Acer was admitted to University College, Oxford to physics and philosophy as an undergraduate.cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/07/olympics.acernethercottinterview|title=The little guy with big brains and Olympic ambition|last=Bull|first=Andy|date=2008-08-07|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-24] He subsequently studied for a Master's degree and a DPhil in philosophy.

The Boat Race

Acer took up rowing at Oxford as a first year but quickly switched to coxing when it became evident that his body type was more suited to that than pulling an oar. [ [http://www.theboatrace.org/article/thecrew/oxfordcrew/2002squad/2002isis/2002isisacernethercott] 2002 Isis profiles] He became a member of both Oxford University Boat Club and Oxford University Women's Boat Club. He earnt his first Blue when he steered the Oxford women's heavyweight blue boat to victory against Cambridge in 2000. The Oxford crew won by 2 1/4 lengths, and completed the Henley Boat Race course in a time of 6 minutes and 18 seconds.

Acer then joined the Oxford University Boat Club, steering Isis to victory in 2002. A year later, he stepped up to the Blue Boat, steering Oxford in the closest Boat Race in recent memory. In a thrilling finish Oxford won the 4 1/4 mile race by just a foot in a time of 18 minutes and 6 seconds. The race was also notable for it being the first time in history two sets of brothers competed against each other. David Livingston (Oxford) raced against his older brother James, and a last minute call up for Ben Smith (who joined the Cambridge Blue Boat from Goldie hours before the race after the original crew member was injured) meant that he competed against his brother Matthew, the Oxford president.

In 2004, he won his seat in the Blue Boat after a tense internal competition with Peter Hackworth, the 2002 winning Blue Boat cox who had taken a year out to study in Italy. [ [http://www.theboatrace.org/article/thecrew/oxfordcrew/2005squad/2005blueboat/2005blueboat] 2005 Oxford Blue Boat profiles] In a controversial race, in which the two boats clashed blades and the Oxford bowman came off his seat, Oxford lost by 6 lengths in a time of 18 minutes and 17 seconds.

Acer's final Boat Race was in 2005. Both universities had extremely strong intakes that year, with Cambridge boasting several world champions and the Oxford crew including Olympic silver medallist Barney Williams. Oxford won the epic contest by 2 lengths in a time of 16 minutes 42 minutes.

International Coxing Career

Acer has coxed the British Eight since 2005, winning bronze at the 2007 World Championships in Munich. A year later he won a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Other Rowing

Despite coxing for both Oxford University Boat Club and Great Britain, Nethercott has still found time to compete for University College Boat Club in 2007 in the annual Eights Week competition.

Achievements

Olympics

*2008 Beijing - Silver, Eight (coxswain)

World Championships

*2007 Munich - Bronze, Eight (coxswain)
*2006 Eton - 5th, Eight (coxswain)
*2005 Gifu - 4th, Eight (coxswain)

World Cups

*2008 Poznań - Gold, Eight (coxswain)
*2008 Lucerne - Bronze, Eight (coxswain)
*2008 Munich - Silver, Eight (coxswain)

*2007 Lucerne - 4th, Eight (coxswain)
*2007 Amsterdam - Bronze, Eight (coxswain)
*2007 Linz - 5th, Eight (coxswain)

*2006 Lucerne - 6th, Eight (coxswain)
*2006 Munich - 5th, Eight (coxswain)

*2005 Lucerne - 5th, Eight (coxswain)
*2005 Eton - Bronze, Eight (coxswain)

References