The run up to the Boat Race sees both blue boats taking up semi-permanent residence on the Tideway, as they each perform their daily outings under heavy scrutiny from coaches, media and anyone with an opinion who happens to be watching.

With such a public arena for their final pre-race preparations it’s hardly surprising that every man and his dog has a view on what the likely outcome of the race will be. If you followed the media attention on Oxford following their record weigh-in, it was easy to assume that the result was a fore-gone conclusion, but talking to Tideway coaches and rowing press who have been watching the crews train, the groundswell of opinion seemed to be that Cambridge would be a very, very hard crew to beat.

That said, Oxford, with their substantial weight differential were always going to be the crew to benefit from rough water so, as the race approached on Sunday afternoon the conditions seemed to be pointing in their favour.

The times:
Mile Post
Oxford: 3.40
Cambridge: 3.40.5

Hammersmith Bridge
Oxford: 6.35
Cambridge: 6.37

Chiswick Steps
Oxford: 10.17
Cambridge: 10.20

Barnes Bridge
Oxford: 13.51
Cambridge: 13.57

Finish
Oxford: 16.42
Cambridge: 16.48

In training the light blues have looked smooth and unflappable; their practice starts showing that the crew could be blisteringly fast out of the blocks, getting spacing within four strokes. But with this race there is only one chance to get it right and as the crews waited on the stake boats, the start was first delayed due to driftwood in the water and Cambridge then had problems getting straight in the strong stream. When the umpire’s flag went down, the Cambridge seven-man Tom James had a semi-air stroke and Oxford took an early lead.

Cambridge seemed never to recover from their unsettled start and despite digging back in, to draw level, Oxford showed no mercy and upped the gear to take a 1 length lead coming through Hammersmith. The dark blues, stroked by Andy Hodge developed their strong rhythm, applied their undeniable power and took advantage of the increasing clear water to wash Cambridge down, coming though the finish with a two length lead.

The Oxford Cambridge boat race is unique in terms of the amount of emotion that the crews invest. After six months of training towards one race, one chance to get it right, that emotion is clear on the faces of both winners and losers.

While Oxford drank champagne and reveled in the attention of the press, the Cambridge rowers looked desolate, no-one likes to lose but it’s always worse if you don’t believed you performed to the best you’re capable of.

Robin Williams moves to take over the GB lightweights and women’s squad next season, but under new coach, Duncan Holland, many of the Goldie and Cambridge crews will be back to race again..