 In the first round at Henley he was against Tom Brocklebank, who had served as stroke of Cambridge University Boat Club in the Boat Race.Pearce had a weight advantage of three and a half stone (22 kg) over Brocklebank and was a clear favourite.Having taken an early lead Pearce was content to scull a couple of lengths in front until halfway along the enclosures (in the last 500m of the course) where Brocklebank pushed hard and came back level.