The Cambridge men’s coach, Rob Baker, said his athletes “100%” used the recent eligibility row as motivation after the light-blue crews sealed dominant victories at the Boat Race on Sunday.
The women’s boat claimed an eighth consecutive win in dramatic circumstances while the men, having been pushed by the Oxford crew early on, pulled away to secure a third successive victory in crushing fashion.
In the unedifying pre-event controversy over eligibility that led to four Cambridge athletes being barred from racing, Oxford were accused of “slimy tactics” by their rivals and Baker said the affair fuelled their competitive urge.
“In terms of the noise, it’s not really interrupted our progress,” he said.
“It’s just been motivation frankly. The guys realise that two guys could have rowed with us in the boat today and they didn’t get that opportunity.
“It was extra motivation 100%. Matt [Heywood] and Tom [Ford] are fantastic guys, really great individuals. They’ve supported the team all the way through. It takes quite a strong character to come down here and watch the race when you weren’t allowed to do it, and support the team all the way through. We’re really proud of them.”
After a uniquely controversial buildup the start of the 79th women’s race could hardly have been more dramatic or confrontational. Cambridge took control with a smooth, powerful start and Daniel Orton, the Oxford cox, steered aggressively into the early leaders’ line, apparently attempting to turn rowing into a contact sport.
The umpire, Matthew Pinsent, warned Orton but had no choice but to stop the contest after just 90 seconds when the crews’ oars repeatedly clashed.
Pinsent raised the possibility of a “straight DQ” in consultation with the reserve umpire, Sarah Langslow, but decided to restart the race, thus avoiding a calamitous outcome for Oxford.
A dominant Cambridge retook control and never looked troubled. They were two lengths in front by Barnes Bridge but Katy Hempson, the Cambridge bow, was not the only athlete reduced to tears of joy as the winning boat drifted towards a gaggle of cheering teammates on the riverbank.
“It definitely pops into your mind,” Pinsent said of the possibility of a disqualification for Oxford. “But the rules express that in the event of a foul, you can see if it affects the outcome of the race.
“In the end Cambridge won so it becomes a bit of a moot point. The rules allow you to do it [disqualification] and the rules allow you to wait and see. You’re considering all and any options from that moment on, but in the end they got to race the full track. That’s the best outcome – that their speed does the talking.”
Annie Anezakis of Oxford told the BBC: “I’ve lost two prior to this. The most meaningful things are the friendships I make and the memories I make along the way. Win or lose I have those memories and those friendships for the rest of my life.”
The start of the men’s race was delayed by a piece of driftwood and when hostilities began, Oxford stayed on terms for the first section of the four-mile, 374-yard course. But Cambridge forged a lead by the Surrey Bend, taking the racing line and leaving Oxford struggling in their wake.
“Relief is a big part of it,” the Cambridge president, Luca Ferraro, said. “As that starts to subside, it’s really an appreciation for the team around me. Everyone at Cambridge has put in such a big shift this year.
“Matt [Heywood] is one of my closest friends. He’s been such a big part of what we’ve done this year, such a big part of the squad, he has such wisdom. I’m gutted he couldn’t race. I hope that today, in some way, was our way of paying him back because he was a huge part of that result.”
The defeated Oxford men’s president, Tom Mackintosh, a gold medallist for New Zealand in the men’s eight at Tokyo 2020, said: “They pushed away at quite a formidable part of the race so full credit to them. We settled into a good rhythm and executed a plan but unfortunately it didn’t go our way.
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
“I don’t feel like we’ve lost. I’m proud of all the work the Oxford men and women have done. The race won’t define you, and it won’t define Oxford. We’ve got some exciting things in the pipeline and I think there’s a prosperous future for us.”
Clutching a bottle of sparkling wine, George Bourne of Cambridge said: “Rob Baker is epic. He knows what he wants. He treats us like adults. And that breeds the culture which is the best I’ve seen in a team.
“When coaches and presidents come in and set that standard every day there’s no excuse for us, the rabble, not to meet that level. You do that every day and you can come out here and enjoy this moment. I’m so proud to be wearing light blue and to be part of this club.” He wasn’t the only one.
