Oxford gain revenge in Boat Race

Oxford won the annual university Boat Race on Sunday, beating Cambridge by 1½ lengths to gain revenge for their painful loss in last year’s event.

With an estimated 250,000 people lining the banks of the River Thames in freezing conditions, the heavier Oxford crew featured two Olympians from the 2012 London Games and never trailed on the 6.8-kilometre course to finish in a time of 17 minutes, 27 seconds.

“It was fun, tough but that was what we expected,” said Oskar Zorrilla, Oxford’s Colombia-born American coxswain who was tossed into the river by the jubilant crew after the race.

“We had a plan and we stuck to it ruthlessly.”

The result cut Cambridge’s overall lead to 81-77 in one of England’s oldest and most prestigious sporting events between the country’s top two universities.

Without incident

The 159th edition of the race in southwest London passed off without incident, unlike last year when it was disrupted by a protester who jumped into the water and swam between the crews before an Oxford crew member collapsed in his boat after the finish. Royal Marines were stationed in inflatable boats on the river this time to ensure there was no repeat of those extraordinary scenes.

“It’s a bit different to last year,” said Oxford six seat Karl Hudspith, who was competing in his third straight race and celebrating his 25^th birthday.

“A year ago, I was carrying my friend’s body onto a stretcher.

“This was a real Boat Race.”

Oxford’s eight was rowing in a boat named “Acer,” after the university’s three-time Boat Race cox Dr. Acer Nethercott, who died in January from brain cancer aged 35.

They made the better start but couldn’t shrug off Cambridge until two-thirds along the course from Putney to Mortlake, when the “Dark Blues” were able to move directly in front of their rivals to cancel out the final bend at Barnes Bridge.

With some spectators keeping pace on bicycles along the banks, Oxford found a steady rhythm, the crew raising their arms aloft as they crossed the line.

“Oxford put together a really fantastic race,” said Cambridge president George Nash, the only British rower in his crew.

“Eventually, they put in one too many moves. They asked too many questions and we were just unable to come up with the goods.

“It is something that will replay in my head for the rest of my life.”

Oxford had two Americans, a Canadian – two-time Olympian Malcolm Howard – and a New Zealander in the boat, weighing in 47 pounds heavier than the “Light Blues.”