[6][7] OULRC commenced the selection process in September prior to the beginning of Michaelmas term, recruiting from both undergraduate and postgraduate members of the University.

[citation needed] In 1987, at the time of the OUBC Mutiny, a similar dispute also arose in relation to the selection of the Lightweight Blue Boat.

[citation needed] The President, David Whittaker, who rowed the previous year, had lost a selection race against another rower, Sean Sinclair.

As president, Whittaker claimed the right to select the crew against the recommendations of the coach, and former OUBC Blue, Rob Clay.

The matter was finally resolved when an extraordinary meeting was called and life members from London travelled up to Oxford to elect Bob Macdonald as president.

[citation needed] For much of its history, OULRC trained outside of Oxford, variously at Radley (downstream) and at Godstow (upstream).