 Rowers from London Rowing club, Cygnet, were chosen to be  John Hannah (I) (qv)s crew mates in the film. The casting  director initially went to Imperial College, but when it was noted  that they were "all over two meters with flat stomachs" it was  decided that lesser rowers than the elite set of internationals  would be cast. This is deliberate in order to make Hannah look like  the tall athletic one in the boat.