Cambridge won the 78th Women’s Boat Race, defeating Oxford by several lengths
Pushing off for the first race of the day, there was a real sense that Oxford’s women had a lot to prove – especially after the previous day’s Lightweight defeats – while Cambridge’s women looked to extend their six consecutive wins. After arriving at Putney, Oxford won the coin toss and President Ella Stadler chose the Middlesex station, echoed by the cheers of the dark blue crowd on the Embankment.
Both crews made fast starts, but Oxford took the early edge, showing off their strength and experience in their boat, and pushing their bows out in front of the light blues within the first 20 strokes of the race. With a longer rhythm coming around to Craven Cottage, Cambridge put in a push back into Oxford’s advantage, before the dark blues edged out to more than half a length.
Despite conditions much more akin to Oxford’s trial eights day, both coxes stayed central down the racing line towards the mile post, with Cambridge struggling to maintain contact. By Harrods, Oxford had been warned for their steering, with Oxford’s cox, Joe Gellett, making an early break to cut across into Cambridge’s water. Before coming up to the Surrey bend, Oxford broke clear of their rivals, followed by Cambridge receiving an equal warning for their steering.
Further warnings for the light blues came from Richard Phelps’ flag as the crews edged towards Hammersmith Bridge, but Cambridge were already making the most of their advantage bend, edging back on Oxford as the crews approached Chiswick Eyot bow ball for bow ball. In a sudden turn of the tide, Cambridge were now edging out multiple seats ahead, in some of the closest Women’s racing since their move to the Tideway in 2015. Further warnings for steering as the water began to grow choppy, but Cambridge continued their assault and began to edge out in front. However, as Cambridge made a move to break clear water and cut out in front, Joe Gellett appeared to try and cut back, with a very near clash as Oxford moved to try and disqualify Cambridge.
The light blues appeared to come off significantly better from the near interference and quickly broke clean away from Oxford to take a two-length lead by Chiswick Pier. Oxford had looked promising in pulling away off the start, but with the tables turned, it now looked to be heading Cambridge’s way. The light blue crew only extended their lead through the flat water leading up to Barnes Bridge, despite the sweep back to Oxford’s advantage bend. Following Hannah Murphy’s central line through the bridge, Oxford never placed a blade wrong, but on this occasion, Cambridge appeared to just be too strong, and heading for their seventh consecutive victory under Paddy Ryan’s commanding rule.
This was the strongest-fought Women’s Boat Race I’ve ever seen, and the comeback from the Cambridge crew was simply incredible to watch. However, as Cambridge sailed past the University Post in their seventh consecutive victory, Joe Gellett’s hand was straight up and the umpire’s red flag also raised. After deliberation with the umpires over warnings and stations, the final ruling was that Gellett had deliberately steered for contact onto the Surrey side of the racing line, leaving Oxford to accept their defeat and Cambridge to bask in the glory of having come out of yet another Boat Race victorious.
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