77th Women’s Boat Race – Cambridge take sixth consecutive win

Cambridge claimed the 77th Women’s Boat Race title on the Thames with their sixth consecutive win against fierce rivals Oxford.

The coin toss started proceedings with Oxford president Sara Helin choosing heads, however, the coin landed on tails resulting in Cambridge president Caoimhe Dempsey choosing the Surrey side.

Having been in the winning blue boat in the past two years Dempsey had a wealth of experience coming into the race to help seal a memorable third Boat Race victory, and her first as president. Sitting in the stroke seat as president with the combined factor of being the only returnee, Dempsey remained faultless despite the additional pressure on her shoulders.

Cambridge cox James Trotman, at only 18 years old and as a first-year student studying Economics at Sidney Sussex College, guided the light blue crew through the blustery conditions along the 4.2-mile course.

While the first part of the course favoured Oxford on the Middlesex side, the dark blues got off to a positive start, getting off the start aggressively to take an early lead, before Cambridge soon drew closer.  Towards Bishop’s Park, Cambridge had taken a slight advantage as they approached Craven Cottage.

Oxford then pulled away again, but Cambridge remained close competitors as they went past Fulham’s football ground.

The two crews then drew closer as Cambridge began to gain momentum as Oxford’s advantage into the first bend was passed.

Cambridge managed to pull further away as they passed the wetlands before the crews were instructed by umpire Matt Smith to move apart as they crept closer together, and a further warning was given to Cambridge minutes later.

Trotman’s Cambridge were further warned and instructed to move towards the Middlesex station as Oxford put pressure on them from a length down.

As the crews passed under the Hammersmith Bridge, Cambridge extended their lead and really began to take control of the race.

As the bend of the river began to favour Cambridge’s Surrey side past the halfway mark through Hammersmith, the light blues used their advantage well.

Oxford trailed while the voice of cox Tara Slade encouraged her crew to keep pushing despite being behind.

As they passed halfway through the Championship Course, Cambridge led by 2.80 seconds and looked to extend the dominance they had built thus far.

The gap only furthered between the two crews, as clear water separated them and Cambridge set themselves in a good position with a 3.10-second lead.

As Barnes Bridge approached and the final third of the race began, this lead was maintained as Oxford lagged behind.

Cambridge passed under the bridge first with a smooth rhythm as Trotman’s crew continued their tremendous effort to maintain their position and an additional lead of over 16 seconds.

Unsurprisingly this lead continued, and Cambridge took the win by a comfortable margin of four and a half lengths and with it a sixth consecutive Boat Race victory.