A FORMER Canford School pupil is set to make history today as she captains the Oxford women's crew in the Boat Race.

Medicine student Anastasia Chitty will be battling it out against her Cambridge competitors as they tear down the Tideway during the landmark event.

It's the first time in the race's history that the women's teams have been allowed to compete on the same stretch of the River Thames as their male counterparts. And it's the first time the women's race will be televised.

The 21-year-old, who is president of the Oxford University Women’s Boat Club, joined Canford from The Dragon Prep in Oxford where her rowing career began.

Her coach at the prestigious Wimborne school said from the outset she displayed the drive to succeed and worked working tirelessly both in the gym and on the river to develop the strength, skill and fitness in her chosen sport.

Ian Dryden, head rowing coach at Canford, said: “Being involved as rowing coach at any level is a physical and emotionally demanding activity. Yet working with Anastasia took this a stage further and her development in the sport made our coaching programme much more about inspiration and drive.”

The youngster won gold and set a new course record at the National Schools’ Regatta in the JW4x Championship in June 2012.

In the same year she also won silver as part of the girls’ quads at Henley and gold in the Women’s Junior U18 Quads at Wallingford.

Alongside her impressive sporting achievements, Anastasia achieved 10A* grades at GCSE and went on to gain 2A*s and 1A at A-level in 2012, gaining a place to read medicine at Pembroke College, Oxford.

As a first year undergraduate, she was the youngest member of the female boat in the 2013 Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race female boat.

Anastasia said: “Representing my country and also getting into Oxford meant I achieved more than I had ever dreamt possible, but I was always encouraged by my teachers, coaches and fellow pupils.

“I hope that in some way I have inspired other young women to strive for excellence and really go for those goals.

“Never get disheartened, work hard, and follow your dream.”

The Newton Women’s Boat Race will start at 4.50pm ahead of The BNY Mellon Boat Race at 5.50pm. Both Races will be broadcast live on BBC One.