Cambridge Claim Victory Over Oxford in the 168th Men’s Boat Race
Cambridge claimed victory in the 168th men’s boat race, defeating last year’s champions Oxford on the Championship Course.
Oxford won the coin toss after Cambridge’s Captain Ollie Parish incorrectly called ‘heads’ as the coin landed on tails. Oxford president Tassilo von Mueller opted for the slightly favoured south bank Surrey station.
By race start time the Cambridge crew were the slight favourites, but it would be reigning champions Oxford weren’t to be counted out.
Neither crew had any Olympians participating in the race, as international athletes prioritise qualification for Paris 2024. This created a complete amateur contest.
For Cambridge, Noam Muelle joined a very small number of non-white male oarsmen to compete in the historic 6.8km contest.
For Oxford, they boasted experience with Felix Drinkall in the stroke seat racing in his fourth Boat Race.
A rudder problem for Cambridge delayed the race start by a couple of minutes, but it wouldn’t prove to be a problem once we got underway.
With the weather just about holding together, both crews got underway cleanly under the close watch of race umpire Anthony Reynolds.
Cambridge took the early initiative, claiming a slight advantage as the boats moved past Craven Cottage.
Anthony Reynolds delved out some early warnings to both crews as they veered towards each other.
Oxford overturned the tables, moving into the lead as the crews passed the first mile, but it was clear the race wasn’t going to be decided in the opening stages.
The headwind may have favoured the heavier and taller Oxford crew, but the Cambridge crew used some tactical steering under the direction of Jasper Parish to keep themselves in contention.
Brother of Cambridge Captain Ollie Parish, it’s the first time the two brothers have shared a boat in the Boat Race, and Jasper kept levelling confident shouts to his brother and his crewmates.
As the boats headed towards Hammersmith, Cambridge maintained their lead, with both crews again coming close to colliding, prompting further warnings from Anthony Reynolds.
Coming past the two-mile mark, Cambridge held their advantage, but Oxford refused to let them get away.
As Oxford looked to close the gap, the light blues continued to steer in a way that could have led to a clash of oars.
But Jasper Parish kept his Cambridge crew in the lead as they pushed harder to try and get away from the dark blue crew.
Anna O’Hanlon poured on the encouragement to her Oxford Crew, asking them to give their 12 and a half per cent to keep that pressure on Cambridge and not let them go.
The gap grew to five seconds as they passed the third mile, a gap that looked significant but not quite insurmountable for Oxford.
Jasper Parish kept the confidence high in the Cambridge boat as they kept relaxed and consistent, keeping the gap back to Oxford as big as they could.
As the crews moved past Barnes Bridge it was hard to see an outcome where Cambridge was going to give up their lead, but the Oxford crew didn’t throw in the towel and gave as much as they could to stay in contention right until the end.
The dark blue crew started their sprint a little earlier than their light blue counterparts, but it was all too little too late.
The gap didn’t close, and Cambridge held on to win the 168th men’s Boat Race.
It’s beginning to become a dominant period for Cambridge, winning their fourth race out of six, taking the trophy back from last year’s winners Oxford.
