Good day at the races for Oxford
The women’s blue boat put their opponents to shame in the penultimate race at Henley. In doing so, they smashed the record set by Cambridge in 1999 by registering a time of 5:44.
Oxford dominated the day at the Henley boat races, held on April 1st to retain the Frandcome Cup 4-1. The women’s blue boat and men’s lightweight blue boat put in commanding performances in fast conditions to win their races in record times, as did both reserve boats. Only the women’s lightweights lost their race, falling short at the finish by a matter of feet.
The day began with glorious sunshine to greet the first two races of the day, between the men’s lightweight and women’s openweight reserve boats. Both were uneventful, with Oxford’s Nephthys and Osiris dominating from the start and posting record times. Nephthys also posted a record margin of five lengths, and Osiris became the first women’s crew ever to break the sixminute barrier at the Henley boat races • an achievement equalled by the blue boat later in the day.
The women’s lightweight boat race, the third race of the day, proved more hotly contested. After crew selection difficulties for Oxford, and a Cambridge victory of 15 seconds at the Women’s Head of the River Race only three weeks earlier, Cambridge went into the race as favourites. However, it was Oxford who took the lead in the first half. Good steering by cox Andrew Crawford and a poor line by Cambridge’s Kathryn Coffin allowed them to open the gap to ¾ of a length.
However, Oxford then experienced the flip side of the conditions, as umpire John Friend took them down a course close to the bank in order to avoid increasing wind. This gave Cambridge an advantage of stream which they grasped, putting in a push at Remenham that brought them almost level. Oxford retained an advantage of about a canvass at the halfway point, but Cambridge gradually rowed through them in the second half of the course.
A dramatic push for the line was not enough to seal an Oxford victory, with Cambridge winning in a time of six minutes with Oxford only half a second behind. That they also beat the previous record time may be of some consolation to the Oxford crew. By the time of the penultimate race of the day, conditions worsened, with the wind swinging round across the course while heavy rain and hail marred the enjoyment of the race for those gathered on the banks. Oxford, 0.
kg heavier than Cambridge and 25 seconds faster at the Women’s Head, were favourites, but difficult conditions ensured a closer contest. Technically, Cambridge looked the better crew, cleaner and establishing a long and smooth rhythm. This significantly enhanced their ability to cope with the rough water, but was no match for the sheer power in the Oxford boat, one of the strongest in recent years.
In a reverse of last year’s race, Cambridge streaked out of the blocks to establish a slight lead, with Oxford visibly struggling with the water as one rower got her blade slightly caught at the finish. However, once Oxford established a rhythm there was no stopping them, and they pressed on to gain a half length lead by the end of the enclosures. Through the second half of the race the conditions began to ease, enabling both crews to pick up speed.
Oxford made the most of this to progress, opening the gap to almost a length, but were unable to shake off Cambridge. At the finish, the light blues put in a push to the line and closed the gap, but it was not enough and Oxford emerged victorious, revenging last year’s defeat and posting a time of 5:44 to smash Cambridge’s 1999 record of 6:01.
In the day’s final race - the Men’s Lightweight Boat Race - Oxford led from the start in a manner that was almost predictable after their form in recent years despite the unsettling thunder, lightning and rain. They were able to boast three returning half blues, and were the favourites despite the presence of a Columbian international in the stroke seat of the Cambridge boat. As he put it, “You just can’t win when you’ve got one man pulling seven”.
Even though Cambridge held Oxford off at the outset, this was short-lived. The dark blues pulled away from their opponents by the end of the enclosures. From there, there was no stopping them and they continued to extend their lead to win by a margin of two 1/4 lengths.
The race was also notable for not only setting a new course record with a time of 5:18, but also beating the world record by one second • albeit with the aid of stream conditions which coach Andy Nelder described as ‘like running downhill’. The success in these races maintained Oxford’s dominance in the Henley Boat Races of the last few years, in which they have held the Frandcome Cup since gaining it in 2002. In that time they have lost only 3 races in total.
This is a testament to the commitment of the squads and coaching teams, as well as to the depth of rowing talent in Oxford.
20th Apr 2006