It’s the seventh time in eight years that Cambridge have come out on top in the Men’s race

Cambridge have secured their seventh win in eight years of competing in the Men’s Boat Race against Oxford. It means the Light Blues have continued their run of recent dominance over their fierce rivals.

But it was a different story for Cambridge in the Women’s race, who were beaten for the first time since 2016. The Light Blues have dominated over the past decade, but it was Oxford who came out on top after a blistering start.

Oxford burst into the lead from the start and maintained the place at the front all the way to the finish line. It was a closely-fought battle of strategy with Cambridge holding on right until the final few hundred metres, but it was Oxford who took victory in the rough and windy conditions.

“I’m excited that I’m not too wet,” Sammy Houdaigui, cox for Cambridge men, told Channel 4. “That was a fantastic race. All credit to Oxford and the eight rowers. We had the right athletes in the boat and I’m glad I got to be a part of it.”

Harry Geffen, for Oxford, said: “It’s mixed emotions. We’re gutted to come away with a loss. A lot of people thought we’d roll over but we gave it all we had. That’s racing.”

He added: “It was pretty rough out there. We practiced for that, especially yesterday. Nothing quite prepares you for when you’re 12 minutes deep and questioning whether you’ll make it. We stuck in there and that’s all you can do.”