Cambridge end Oxford hoodoo as they master conditions to triumph
CAMBRIDGE University have beaten Oxford to win the 162nd edition of the Boat Race and end their rivals’ recent dominance.
The victory was their first in four years, and came after a run of six wins from eight for Oxford, whose women had won the women’s edition earlier yesterday afternoon.
Race favourites Cambridge had won the toss, and chose to start on the Surrey station on the same south side of London’s River Thames as Oxford’s women. In rough conditions on the Tideway course, the teams began competitively but with the more experienced Cambridge slightly edging ahead while rowing more tidily.
Much of the reason they were favoured came in the fact they were 11.8 kilograms heavier overall, 1.5 centimetres taller per man, and had added Great Britain oarsman Lance Tredell to their team.
Approaching the first bend they were were building a promising lead, but at a time when they would have hoped to extend that – approaching the second, by Hammersmith bridge – Oxford impressed by remaining more than in contention just behind them.
The second was where the water, owing to strong wind, was at its choppiest, and where Cambridge’s women were at risk of sinking, but Cambridge built on their advantage in the unfavourable conditions and by the time they reached the Chiswick steps were set up for victory.