Cambridge win 153rd Boat Race

The weather was good, the Thames like a millpond, and the heavy favourites, Cambridge, powered home to victory in the boat race last Saturday.

Members of the society watched the action unfold on the big screen in the middle of Den Haag and Amsterdam. Even though it was Easter Saturday, a good number turned out at each location - with Dark Blues and Light Blues fairly evenly supported.

Oxford, the underdogs, despite having won the race the last two years, won the toss and chose the Surrey station. They raced out of the blocks to hold off Cambridge and nullify the first bend disadvantage, and were almost up to a length at times during the first half of the race. However they could never make clear water around the long Surrey bend to go in front and almost inevitably the Cambridge boat, with German internationals rowing at 7 and Stroke, took control. At 4.3 kg per man heavier, their class came through eventually and Rebecca Dowbiggin, the first female cox of the winning boat since 2000, justified her last minute selection and parried Oxford's final assault.

Oxford held on to lose by only one and a quarter lengths, despite predictions of a larger winning margin, although in the Boat Race there is no prize for coming second. Tom James, the Cambridge President, has finally won at his fourth attempt. Cambridge now lead 79-73 overall.

The 2008 Race will be on Saturday March 29th at 17.15