2013 Boat Race - in pictures

Sir Matthew Pinsent is umpiring today's race and is hoping for an incident-free day (last year, a spectator swam into the river and interrupted the crews mid-race before an Oxford team-member collapsed at the finish line). The coin being used to determine who'll start on the northbank side and who'll start on the southbank side is an 1829 sovereign - 1829 being the first year the race was held, of course Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Apparently, rowing blazers are de rigeur for spectators today Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Can't help but feel this chap might need a longer lens Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Time to back your boat ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Cambridge crew, in their matching light blue wellies, gather at Putney. In case you're wondering what colour those wellies really are – because let's face it, it's not light blue – it's technically Pantone 557, spring green, or hex triplet #A3C1AD, according to your choice of colour chart Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Oxford, the Dark Blues, plonk their boat onto the river near the start line Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Old Cambridge rowers sit among a flotilla of small motorised boats which will be following the two crews down the river during the race Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Oxford crew gain an early lead and, thanks to the advantage of the Surrey bend, they move half a length ahead with a third of the race gone (if this were the Olympics, they'd be at the finish line now) Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Royal Marines have been drafted in to ensure that no Trenton Oldfield wannabes dive into the river this year. Though this chap seems more intent on capturing a quick snap than on maintaining security Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The entire length of the 4.2 mile course is lined with spectators, despite the bitterly cold weather Photograph: Tom Jenkins

After two and a half miles they pass Chiswick Eyot ... and the skies open up Photograph: Tom Jenkins

By the time they reach Barnes, Oxford have edged a length ahead. Their cox duly steers them in front of the Cambridge boat, thereby negating Cambridge's advantage of being on the inside as the river swings to the right Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Oxford crew are roared on by the crowds - they surely can't be beaten now? Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Indeed they can't. The Oxford crew pass the finishing line just before Chiswick Bridge in 17 minutes 27 seconds, to claim their ninth win in the last 14 editions of the race and to cut Cambridge's overall lead to 81-77 Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

The Cambridge crew looks dejected and thoroughly exhausted. They were little more than a length behind the winners Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Oxford crew spray champagne at the victory presentation. Last year there was no such presentation as both crews were so concerned about the health of the Oxford team-member Alex Woods who was rushed to hospital Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Today, however, the celebrations are in full flow and, as is tradition, the gigantic Oxford crew toss their tiny cox Oskar Zorrilla into the water Photograph: Tom Jenkins