Oxford win 154th Boat Race
Oxford scored a hugely impressive victory over arch rivals Cambridge when the two University crews met on a grey and rainswept river Thames for the 154th renewal of this traditional spring contest. Before today's race, Cambridge - last year's winners - led overall with 78 victories to Oxford's 73.
But this Oxford crew was the second heaviest in history and despite losing the toss and being forced to take the usually less advantageous Middlesex station on the river, they looked the stronger outfit.
Oxford made the better start and were soon half a length ahead, making full use of the Middlesex bend in their favour.
They held the advantage up to Hammersmith Bridge, but Cambridge, under cox Rebecca Dowbiggin's urgings, hung onwell and battled back, digging into their resources so that when the big Surrey bend came into effect, it was they who took the lead with Oxford looking the crew in trouble.
But their efforts told and, after some near clashes with their rivals' oars, they dropped rapidly behind again and with Barnes Bridge in sight, looked exhausted and trailed by four or five lengths.
Oxford, coxed by Nick Brodie, cruised home to record an easy victory of over seven lengths, 22 seconds in front of Cambridge in 20 minutes 52 seconds - the slowest winning time since 1947.
Oxford have now won five of the last seven University Boat Races.
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