WHEN your maths teacher calls you small and mouthy', your natural reaction would be to expect a rollicking and detention to follow.

But for Shrivenham's Nick Brodie, hearing these words as a 13-year-old at Abingdon School pointed him on his way to appearing in one of sport's most famous events.

Twenty-year-old Brodie will cox Oxford's dark blue boat in tomorrow's University Boat Race and he reveals it was his youthful arrogance' that set him on his way.

He said: "When I was in my first year at Abingdon School my maths teacher said you are small and mouthy and so you should try being a cox'.

"I only weighed 37kg and was 4ft 2ins and when you are that age, being a cox is all about your size and your attitude. The rowing teams want the small, confident lads.

"You have to be able to boss a bunch of guys around and to be confident enough to make sure they gave you no trouble, I think my maths teacher saw I was chirpy enough to do that."

Being a 13-year-old in charge of lads up to four years older than him though, Brodie admits confidence is an essential part of coxing.

He said: "It is not easy. When I was 13 I was called into the schools' first boat and so I had to cox a load of older guys around.

"That could be quite daunting for some but, at that age, I was very sure of myself and perhaps a little cocky and I really enjoyed that side of things.

"Where else do you get a chance to shout at guys so much older than you?

"The situation hasn't changed that much now. The guys are still much older and much more experienced than I am but I still get to sit in the back of the boat and shout at them."

Brodie, who has coxed Isis to defeat in the past two reserve string boat races, admits being dropped from the first crew at the last minute last year was a sign of loss of confidence.

He said: "Being dropped was tough to cope with. To be fair though I was not performing to the level I had been when I was selected.

"I was not as confident as I had been. Perhaps over the years I have lost some of the youthful arrogance, I guess that is natural.

"Kids are always confident until they grow up. I guess I have grown up and become more mature, but I let that affect me the wrong way last year.

"I had started doubting my ability to shout at these guys but there is none of that this time round. I am in this to win."