For those oarsmen who have experienced the ecstasy or devastation which comes from passing a certain post next to Chiswick bridge either first or second on boat race day, the side effects of pouring so much physical effort and mental commitment into preparing for a single race, can last a lifetime.

I was fortunate to be able to attend the CUBC pre-race squad luncheon this year which was attended by a number of the light blue crew from 1960, back for their 50 year reunion, and even after half a century it was soon obvious that the emotions from that long finished race were still fresh in their minds.

"How did you do when you raced?" I asked one of the crew. "We lost... and it was all HIS FAULT," came the response, along with an accusatory gesture towards the old blue standing next to me.

Roused by the arm flailing, the subject of his wroth turned round "Eh?"

"I was just telling her how you lost us the race, and I’m still bitter about it. Not as bitter as I used to be, but only just."

"We lost the year before as well."

"No... YOU lost the year before; I wasn’t in the boat..."

Of course, for the last 15 years the Veterans’ Boat Race (n.b. though they might claim they’ve been through the wars, read ‘Masters’ in US speak), held the day before the main event, has provided old blues with the opportunity to right old wrongs against the ‘enemy’ over a shortened course from Putney to Furnivall steps.

Cambridge have dominated the race in recent years (with nine wins to Oxford’s four) but faced stiffer opposition that normal from the dark blues, who boated a marginally younger and heavier crew this year with an average age of 42 to Cambridge’s 43 -- the qualifying average age is usually 42 on the day of the Race though, clocking in at 71 in 2008, Alexander Lindsay has been the oldest competitor to date. Oxford, also won the toss, choosing the favoured Middlesex station and the inside of the Fulham bend.

Oxford provided the umpire this year, old blue Boris Rankov doing the honours, presumably in response to, CUBC umpire, Tony Reynold's refusal to accept an appeal from the dark blues during the 2009 race. Waiting before the race, Boris did his best to remain impartial in the face of questioning from a returning member of that crew - "So Boris, once you’ve warned them five times, then you’ll disqualify them... right?"

Good Friday on the Tideway can be busy and the start had to be delayed slightly while a selection of sailing boats, barges and plastic gin palaces made their way down through Putney Bridge in the rough conditions. The heavy downpour that had been in evidence earlier in the afternoon was replaced by watery sunshine and before long the crews were underway.

In what must be a record, even for Professor Rankov (who has never been shy of flag waving), the red starting flag was down and the white flag up and pointing to Middlesex within 2 seconds of saying ‘GO’.

"OXFORD!!!!" he bellowed, which was promptly followed by an ominous clunk as the oars clashed, and soon after that "CAMBRIDGE!!!!.... CREWS MOVE APART!!!"

So it continued down the embankment with both crews vying for the limited fast water on the slack incoming tide. The boats appeared to be evenly matched to start, but while the mind may be willing, the flesh can be weak and by Barn Elms, Cambridge had started to show signs of superior fitness and taken a small lead.

The rest of the race confirmed that the light blues had the edge, and they slowly pulled ahead, eventually allowing Boris to give his flag arm a well deserved rest and went on to win by around 3 lengths.

Crews:

Cambridge – Champions

Bow                       Neil West           47            L83, N02
2                         Peter Jacobs        47            G85
3                         Max Justicz         43            B91-2
4                         Matt Parish         38            B94-5 N93-5, O96
5                         Guy Pooley          43            B88-91, O92, 96, N91-95
6                         David Gillard       39            B91-3, N91,2,02
7                         Richard Smith       40            B91, G90,2
Stroke                    Sean Gorvy          47            G86/7, N87
Cox                       Rebecca Dowbiggin                 WB06, B07-9

Reserves                  Johnny Moulsdale    54            G77
Iain Pritchard                                53            L77
Coaches                   Richard Phelps, Rowley Douglas, Donald Legget

Average age: 43
Average weight: 13st 4lb.

Oxford – Challengers

Bow                       Hugh Pelham          43            I89, B87-8
2                         Nick Holland         50            I80, B82
3                         Edward Haddon        36            I92
4                         Hugh Corroon         43            B95
5                         Andrew Gordon-Brown  43            I93, B94, O92, N93-5
6                         Kingsley Poole       40            I90, B92-4
7                         Guy Blanchard        41            B89
Stroke                    Richard Thorp        41            B89, I90
Cox                       Nicola Walther                     WB95

Reserves                  Duncan Spencer       69            B63-65
Coach

Average age: 42
Average weight: 14st 4lb

Legend:
B – Blue; WB – Women’s Blue; L – Lightweight ½ Blue; I/G - Reserve crew; N- International; O – Olympic Team.