Plenty of whooping, hollering and back-slapping on the banks of the Thames as the Light Blues pick up their first Boat Race win since 2012. Congratulations to Cambridge’s men, and Oxford’s women, who were both excellent in some of the toughest Tideway conditions we’ve seen in years. That’s all from me. Cheerio.
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A dramatic contrast as both crews passed the finish line, with Luke Juckett, twice defeated in this race, standing up in celebration, while the Dark Blues slumped in their seats. Now, Cambridge are also slumped in their seats. They look absolutely exhausted.
Cambridge win the 162nd men's Boat Race!
Oxford fight gamely, keeping their opponents in sight, but Cambridge are too disciplined and determined to be reeled in now, and a final heave up to Chiswick Bridge sees them win by two-and-a-half lengths!
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Cambridge lead by two-and-a-half lengths as both boats head under the central span of Barnes Bridge. There’s a kilometre to go, and it’s surely a matter of moments until they end Oxford’s run of victories.
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Three miles gone. This stretch of the course proved pivotal in the women’s race, with Oxford moving to the Middlesex side and Cambridge getting overwhelmed by the waves. There’s no such drama here yet – both crews learned from that spectacle, moving towards the north bank – but the Light Blues are rowing cleanly and calmly to extend their lead.
The waves are lashing both boats now, with Cambridge maintaining a length lead. Cambridge have the advantage of clear water up ahead as the race reaches Chiswick Eyot.
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Oxford are finding their groove after a nervous start, staying on Cambridge’s tail through an unfavourable stretch for the crew on the Middlesex side. With two miles gone, both crews are moving at an impressive pace, but the Light Blues still lead.
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The crews reach the start of the Surrey Bend and Hammersmith Bridge, with Cambridge still building their lead, despite the husky encouragement of Dark Blues cox Sam Collier. There’s still the chance of the waves playing their part, but Cambridge look comfortable.
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The umpire has his megaphone out early as Cambridge get too close to Oxford’s line, and there is almost a clash of oars. With a mile gone, the Light Blues are extending the advantage, at least half a length clear. The boats, incidentally, are named Boaty McBoatrace Kevin and Daniel.
Cambridge have the more experienced crew, and are on the preferable Surrey side of the course, and they take an early quarter-length lead as Craven Cottage comes into view.
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The men's race is under way
The two reserve races have been and gone, untelevised. Cambridge’s Goldie crew won the women’s reserve race, Oxford’s Isis crew won the men’s. And Seann Walsh has won the hearts of the rowing community. Now it’s (finally) time for the 162nd men’s Boat Race...
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Helen Skelton and Seann Walsh’s awkward double act isn’t exactly drawing rave reviews on Twitter. Walsh apparently thought the race took place in Cambridge, a pretty extreme case of not doing your homework.
Five minutes! Here’s some music:
Cambridge women’s coach Rob Baker has summed up their race nicely:
Here’s more on that dramatic women’s race:
The men's crews
Oxford (Middlesex station): Sam Collier (Cox), George McKirdy, James White, Morgan Gerlak, Joshua Bugajski, Leo Carrington, Jorgen Tveit, James Cook, Nik Hazell.
Cambridge (Surrey station): Ian Middleton (Cox), Felix Newman, Ali Abbasi, Charles Fisher, Clemens Auersperg, Luke Juckett, Henry Hoffstot, Ben Ruble, Lance Tredell.
The men are out on the water, getting ready for the race in fifteen minutes’ time. “Anything can happen,” says Clare Balding. Maybe not anything, but it should certainly be eventful. Sir Matthew Pinsent tells us that the continuing high winds, and a rising tide on the river, will make for forbidding conditions.
After a slow start, Oxford were in the ascendancy for the vast majority of that race – but the decision by cox Morgan Baynham-Williams to steer towards the Middlesex bank, and away from the worst of the waves, secured a very comfortable win as Cambridge almost went under. The wind, and the waves, might be even worse for the men’s race – stay tuned.
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Oxford win the 71st women's Boat Race
The hot favourites win by a country mile to continue their recent dominance of this race – this is their fourth straight victory. Cambridge get over the line a long. long way behind – but at least they made it.
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Oxford are cruising towards Chiswick Bridge, while Cambridge, who looked to have stopped altogether, have regrouped but have been ordered by officials to calmer waters close to the Middlesex bank. The on-board pumps seem to have averted total disaster, even if this will be heavy defeat.
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Cambridge labour in the shadow of Barnes Bridge, water pouring over the side of their boat, and I think we’re about to see the first sinking in the history of the women’s Boat Race...
Approaching Barnes Bridge, Oxford move close to the Middlesex bank, giving up the best line to find shelter from the waves. Cambridge stay firmly on line, but the waves are causing them huge trouble – you can see the water filling up the boat, in fact... Oxford are pulling away, but now it’s all about whether Cambridge can finish.
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Coming to the end of the long, wide Surrey Bend with three miles gone, and Oxford have ridden out that storm to open up a gap of a couple of lengths, and can choose their line heading into the home straight.
The Thames is angry today, my friends, and Cambridge have to shift far over to the Surrey side to avoid the choppy waters. Oxford don’t follow suit, and take on a fair bit of water – which allows Cambridge back into it as the Chiswick Steps approach...
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A warning from the umpire as the boats come perilously close together, as Cambridge fight to keep in contact with two miles gone. Both crews rowing into the wind, and battling choppier waters, but it’s hitting the trailing Light Blues much harder, and Oxford have taken a decisive advantage.
Cambridge cox Rosemary Ostfeld is giving her team a furious pep talk, but as they pass under Hammersmith Bridge, Oxford are packing in more strokes per minute – 35 to 33 – and edging almost a full length clear, with the Surrey Bend ahead set to favour them.
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As the crews reach the mile marker, Cambridge fight Oxford off in the battle for the best racing line – but as the river straightens, a push from Oxford gives them a lead of half a length.
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Craven Cottage is coming into view as the teams settle into a rhythm. Oxford have recovered from their slow start, and have edged a fraction ahead of their opponents, with the boats moving closer together for the crucial first bend.
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We're off!
After a short delay, the women’s crews are away – and Cambridge make the brighter start, with Oxford sluggish off the mark...
Here’s our own Lawrence Ostlere, who is down by the river:
Being a traditional British occasion we’ve had just about every type of weather today: sunshine, rain, a violent hailstorm which provoked an equally violent race for cover, and even a solitary clap of thunder and lightning, but the banks are heaving nonetheless with fans and flags and overpriced food stalls.
The sunshine is back just in time for the start of the women’s race. The second instalment of the women’s version on the Putney to Mortlake course is expected to go much like the first - Oxford are strong favourites - and having won the toss they have the perceived advantage of the Surrey station.
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The women's crews
Just five minutes until the second women’s boat race to be held on the Tideway. Here are the crews:
Oxford (Surrey station): Morgan Baynham-Williams (Cox), Emma Lukasiewicz, Emma Spruce, Joanne Jansen, Ruth Siddorn, Elo Luik, Anastasia Chitty, Maddy Badcott, Lauren Kedar.
Cambridge (Middlesex station): Rosemary Ostfeld (Cox), Ashton Brown, Fiona Macklin, Alice Jackson, Théa Zabell, Daphne Martschenko, Myriam Goudet, Hannah Roberts, Zara Goozee.
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Oxford have been dominant in both races over the last decade, with Cambridge managing just five wins out of twenty. The dark blue tide has arguably been fuelled by the arrival of two exceptional coaches – Sean Bowden for the men, Canada’s Christine Wilson for the women.
The female crews are already on the water while, in a classic spot of BBC padding, Helen Skelton and Seann Walsh dodge lively punters in a Barnes hostelry. You’re better off reading this excellent interview, as James Riach chats to Cambridge crew member Fiona Macklin.
The weather in south-west London is mild and sunny right now, but this is springtime in England, so hail, thunder and lightning have all been in evidence this afternoon. There are dark clouds broiling in the distance, so bad weather could still play a part – particularly for the men.
The coin tosses for both races have taken place. Oxford’s women won the toss and chose the Surrey station (that’s the south bank, folks). For the men’s race, Cambridge won the toss and did likewise. Is that commentating legend Barry Davies officiating? Why, yes it is.
The course
By and large, the same stretch of water, known officially as the Championship Course, has been used since 1845. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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Preamble
Welcome to the 2016 Boat Race, the 162nd edition of a sporting staple that’s always comforting in its consistency. In a world where Rafael Nadal is quitting tennis matches, and England are simultaneously quite good at football, rugby union and limited-overs cricket, it’s nice to know some things never change.
Oxford and Cambridge will row 4.25 miles between Putney Bridge and Chiswick Bridge, with throngs of refreshed revellers egging them on. The one fundamental change to the event in recent history has been a positive, if overdue, one – the women’s race, now in its 71st edition, takes place along the same course, an hour before the men.
Both Cambridge crews tipped the scales at the pre-race weigh-ins, with Cambridge’s men favourites to prevail, and end a run of three straight Oxford winners. Oxford also triumphed in the inaugural Thames women’s race, and are favourites to do so again today.
Whatever happens, this is today’s biggest sporting fixture – with honourable mentions for India v Australia and er, the World Cup of Crisps – so grab a Pimm’s and get comfy. The women’s race is at 3.10pm, the men get under way at 4.10pm (both BST).
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