Cambridge win Boat Race for first time since 2012
Sunday 27 March 2016 17:27, UK
Cambridge beat Oxford to win the 162nd edition of the University Boat Race and end their rivals' recent dominance of the contest.
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 on Sunday afternoon.
Favourites Cambridge had won the toss, and chose to start on the Surrey station, 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 crew slightly edging ahead while rowing more tidily.
Much of the reason they were favoured came in the fact they were 11.8kg heavier overall, 1.5cm 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.
Thereafter, both teams - perhaps reacting to the struggles earlier witnessed in the women's race - headed for the Middlesex bank where the water was at its kindest, and as they did, Cambridge retained their lead which had built to two-and-a-half-lengths.
Heading into the final straight having already overcome the biggest challenges, the light blues remained relaxed to end any unlikely hope Oxford had of recovering.
Their convincing victory was eventually secured in a time of 18 minutes and 38 seconds, and by two-and-a-half lengths.
