Oxford again at the Boat Race

The Oxford crew lead Cambridge by Hammersmith Bridge during the 152nd Boat Race

Oxford University continued a winning roll by finishing ahead of Cambridge University in the annual 152nd Boat Race in London, Great Britain.

Winning the toss, Oxford was able to pick the starting side of the river and get the edge for this winding 4 ¼ mile race on the River Thames. The all-important coxswain’s role meant that Oxford was able to push Cambridge wide around the first corner. The next bend favoured Cambridge and at the mile post, Cambridge had the lead.

Coming up to the famous Hammersmith Bridge the crews were well balanced but going through the bridge Oxford got an advantage. Oxford’s captain, Barney Williams, in his second year racing, must have been thinking a lot about this point of the race. Williams’ wife, Canadian Olympic rowing medallist, Buffy Williams, recently had a baby and the name Hammersmith was added as a middle name.

Oxford managed to leave Cambridge behind at this point and, as the water got rougher, the Cambridge boat took on water. At the finish they had a five-length boat lead over Cambridge.

The Oxford crew celebrate their win after winning the 152nd Boat Race

Cambridge’s new coach Duncan Holland commented on the Boat Race website, “At the Surrey bend Oxford were in a position to dictate the course. They got themselves into that position, and that’s racing.?

“We had a really good race, everything worked for us. The guys executed the plan 100 per cent,? said Sean Bowden, coach for Oxford. “We tried to stay with them in the first half of the race and we backed ourselves in the second half of the race.?

Oxford’s victory means that the overall series record is 78-73 to Cambridge for the event which began in 1829.

Earlier in the day Cambridge University’s reserve crew, Goldie, beat the Oxford reserves, Isis, by about four lengths.

The race was watched by an estimated global audience of 120 million covering more than 190 countries.

For more information go to www.theboatrace.org.

Related Links
The Boat Race, research and Sebastian Thormann
The Boat Race and the Boat Race (2005)
Controversy follows Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race (2004)
Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race Makes History (2003)

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