Oxford’s third win in five years

International interest in the race has been a feature of most of the 154 races which have now taken place since its foundation in 1829, as oarsmen from all over the world flock to the two universities, attracted as much by their academic credentials as the chance to race in front of a world-wide television audience of millions.

This year's Oxford crew boasted four Americans, including Mike Wherley. At 36 years of age Wherley is the oldest oarsman ever to take part in the historic contest. At bow was German Olympian Jan Herzog while the international flavour was completed with Australian Toby Medaris in the two-seat.

By comparison the Cambridge crew was largely composed of domestic UK athletes, the exceptions being Australians Tim Perkins at 2 seat and three-times Boat Race oarsman Tom Edwards at 7. The crew had suffered a major setback three days before the race when their stroke, the American Shane O'Mara, was pulled out on medical advice after suffering an exercise induced heart problem. He was replaced by fellow US oarsman Ryan Monaghan, formerly stroke of the Cambridge reserve crew.

Early forecasts of a south-westerly breeze increased the likelihood of sinking conditions over the second half of the long S-shaped course. It had been 30 years since either crew failed to finish the race in this way, but the wind changed direction at the last minute to produce much smoother conditions on the incoming tide.

As the two crews powered evenly off the start it was Oxford who took a narrow lead before their cox, Nick Brodie, was warned by umpires for his steering two minutes into the race.

But the leaders could not use the early bend in their favour to its full advantage as Cambridge used their higher rate of striking to good effect and stayed well in touch.

At the first split timing point after one mile Oxford were less than a second clear but they then mounted a serious challenge to move further ahead and put clear water between themselves and Cambridge. Race rules mean that the leading crew can then cross and take the inside of the big 180 degree bend in the opposite direction which was about to favour Cambridge.

But the losing crew, with their stroke Ryan Monaghan still driving them along at 36 strokes a minute against Oxford at 34, refused to go away, mounting a push of their own which saw them draw level for the first time, and preventing Oxford from taking their water. At the second timing marker of Hammersmith Bridge, almost three kilometres into the race, Cambridge were leading by one second, and quickly increased the margin to 2/3 of a length.

But then Oxford raised their game for what was to prove the killer blow. Increasing their rate to 36 strokes a minute they launched an attack to which the tiring Cambridge men had no response. After five kilometres the lead had now switched back to Oxford by a clear three seconds.

For the remainder of the race everything went Oxford's way as they increased the advantage despite some rough conditions in the closing stages. They went on to win by an official verdict of six lengths in a time of 20 mins 53 secs – the slowest Boat Race since 1947.

Official Boat Race website: www.theboatrace.org

By Robert Treharne Jones