Boat Race 2021: Cambridge complete third consecutive double

The Light Blues have done it again.

Despite the change of venue from West London to Ely, Cambridge University continued their dominance of recent Boat Race meetings on Sunday (4 April).

The women's race was a competitive affair with Oxford leading at halfway, but Cambridge lasted the 4.89km course the better to take a fourth consecutive victory by almost a boat length.

Cambridge were seen as underdogs with a lighter crew in the men's race, but went out hard and quickly established a lead of three-quarters of a length.

Umpire and Olympic bronze medallist Sarah Winckless, the first female umpire in the history of the men's race, repeatedly warned Cambridge and shouted "Charlie, move!" to their cox Charlie Marcus.

She then ordered the boats to move wide around what looked like a bunch of weeds in the middle of the water with Oxford then trying to close the gap.

The advantage was down to a third of a length at the midway point, but Cambridge moved clear again to prevail for a third straight win with last year's race cancelled.

Winning cox Marcus told BBC interviewer and four-time Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent that the crosswind determined his tactics, "I had to be as far over as I could. I never fouled them so... that's what I had to do."

The Oxford crew could barely speak afterwards with stroke Augustin Wambersie saying, "We were all out there. That's all I can say."

Cambridge celebrate on 'home' water

The Boat Race was forced to move from its traditional home on the Tideway on the River Thames with Hammersmith Bridge dangerously close to collapse.

It was switched to the River Great Ouse in Ely which Cambridge often use for training, although the Oxford crews did practise there in the days leading up to the contests.

Covid-19 measures also meant the event was closed to spectators.

The women's race saw Sarah Portsmouth and Katie Anderson, friends from Yarm School in North Yorkshire, go head-to-head.

The pair have roomed together at British trials, and it was Portsmouth who earned bragging rights with Cambridge's victory.

Also on the winning team was Australian postgraduate student Sarah Tisdall whose grandfather Bob Tisdall won 400m hurdles gold for Ireland at the 1932 Los Angeles Games.

She told the BBC afterwards, "Awesome race, massive congrats to Oxford. That’s the closest race the females have had. Awesome day for the sport and really proud of this team."

It was certainly closer than recent encounters on the Thames with Cambridge cox Dylan Whitaker bravely holding his line despite his Oxford opposite number Costi Levy steering aggressively and almost causing a clash between the boat's blades.

Cambridge now hold a commanding lead of 45-30 over Oxford in the women's Boat Race.

The men's tally is 85-80 in favour of Cambridge with one dead heat recorded in 1877.