Cambridge University Boat Club enjoy victories in women’s and men’s Lightweight Boat Races

There was double delight for Cambridge University Boat Club as their women’s and men’s crews got the better of Oxford during today’s Interactive Investor Lightweight Boat Races.

Both victories came in convincing fashion, with the women going off first on the Championship Course between Putney and Mortlake.

And while it was Oxford that got off to a powerful start, Cambridge soon got themselves in front on the River Thames and they continued to move away from their opposition, eventually winning by a margin of six lengths.

Cambridge cox Sam Clark said: “I'm sure it was very, very hard work for them but they always (make it look easy). I'm always amazed by how easy they can make incredibly difficult things look.

“They’ve shown that today better than they ever have before. It was something quite spectacular.

“We knew Oxford would have a very feisty start. We know they are a really powerful crew and superb sportswomen, so we knew we'd have to push hard if we wanted to stay with them in that part of the race. I'm just really glad that we were able to hold them off.”

Meanwhile, it was an even more commanding win for Cambridge’s men after they triumphed by 11 lengths (31 seconds).

However, there was a nervous wait for the crew after they had crossed the line following an appeal from the Oxford boat, who felt they had been impeded during a couple of clashes at the start of the race. But following some consultation, umpire Matthew Holland ruled that the result would stand.

Cambridge cox Tteja Senthilnathan said: “It started off with both crews really close and I think the guys did a good job handling themselves under pressure and we went through with our normal stride sequence.

“Obviously you can expect some contact here and there so they did a great job just holding on to the blades.

“We were more holding our station. They rowed very well too, but we've been doing well off the starts.”

It is the second year in a row in which both Cambridge boats have been victorious, with the women leading the overall head-to-head record 23-17, while the men are 30-19 up.

Cambridge Women: 8. Olivia Alliott (Jesus), 7. Lauren Britten (Magdalene), 6 Livia Lisi-Vega (Downing) PhD Cancer Biology, 5. Katy Hempson (Christ’s), 4. Gemma Swan (Emmanuel), 3. Madeleine Jackson (St. Edmund’s), 2. Beth Merrifield (Homerton), 1. Annabel Cardno (Emmanuel), Cox: Sam Clark (Hughes Hall)

Cambridge Men: 8. Lewis Grey (St Catharine’s), 7. Ben Jones Magdalene), 6. Harry Fieldhouse (St John’s), 5. Gianluca Vartan (Homerton), 4. Joe Holey (St Catharine’s), 3. Sam Clarke (Magdalene), 2. Sam Taylor (Clare), 1. Tom Heppel (St. Catharine’s), Cox: Tteja Senthilnathan (Girton)