University | Sport

30 Mar 09

Oxford won the Boat Race for the second year in a row. Credit: Getty Images

Oxford’s rowers won the 155th Boat Race yesterday for the second year in a row, holding off a determined Cambridge to clinch the title by three and a half lengths.

Oxford also won the women's boat race and the women's lightweights, held on 22 March, though Cambridge won the men's lightweights and the women's reserves races. 

The men's team, who were the heaviest in 180 years of Boat Race history, were favourites to win the Boat Race due to fielding a team featuring five Olympians and they lived up to expectations.

Despite the importance of the occasion after six months of hard training, four of Oxford’s team taking MBA courses at the Said Business School, had to spend the night before the race finishing coursework.

Like last year, Cambridge won the toss and opted for the Surrey station, but unfortunately got off to a bad start.
Oxford began well, but eight minutes into the race Cambridge pushed hard to go into the lead and were ahead by half a length at the two mile mark. But Oxford weren’t giving up and increased their stroke rate to 42 strokes a minute from 36 to draw level again. A clash of oars meant a few of the rowers missed strokes, but Oxford recovered the quickest and took advantage of the situation by pulling in to a clear lead.

Colin Smith, the Oxford president, said: ‘Cambridge came pretty close to making it their day. The difference between the two crews today was our power, aggression and stickability. All the way along I knew we had good strength and it would take a lot to break us and that really showed. By choosing Surrey, Cambridge knew that they had to win by halfway. So as long as we hung in there and rowed to our potential and rowed with rhythm, it was going to be tough for them physically and psychologically.’

‘Far from a year of big egos and individuals clashing, that couldn’t have been further from reality,’ said Oxford coach Sean Bowden. ‘We just said 'get to halfway, and head for home’, and they did a really good job.’

The win gave Oxford’s Dark Blues their fourth victory over Cambridge in five years. 

The Henley races on 22 March were no less exciting.

The women's reserve race saw Osiris, for Oxford, lead off the start as they attempted to continue a run of success which began as long ago as 2001, but Blondie, for Cambridge, ultimately won by 1 1/2 lengths.

Although Cambridge won the toss in the women's lightweight race, Oxford drew ahead and widened the gap to win by a nine second verdict which was officially given as 2.5 lengths.

Oxford triumphed for the fifth year running in the women's boat race, crossing the line 1.25 lengths clear in 6 minutes 24 seconds.

Cambridge won the lightweight men's boat race, however, finishing 9 seconds clear and securing their first victory in the event since 2001.