The 163rd Boat Race The Boat Race

They can't remember a day like this for the race, ever. A marvellous

race. A marvellous moment in their life. To go all out to the Fulham

football ground. And Cambridge are sinking. Oh, wow. This is it. He's

lost his oar. Oxford are coming to the finishing post. This is going to

be unbelievable. Oh. Oxford won! This jeer going to belong to

Cambridge. COMMENTATOR: The Boat Race is under

way. Make it happen. It's a contest covered in 240

countries, reaching 350 million people. Part of the reason is its

history and interest digs and part is the simplicity. It requires no

translation of complicated rules, just two boats, Dark Blue and Light

Blue. They are packing the river banks for the races. The men's race,

the oldest continuous amateur sporting event in the world but the

build-up to this year's race has been rather unusual. Yesterday we

saw the lowest tides in years and that meant that parts of the river

bank had been exposed that hadn't been seen for decades and a sailor

discovered a very unusual looking object, called in the local police.

They had a look. This morning it was confirmed by the marine police unit

and specialist officers that it was a World War Two ordnance, an

explosive device dropped from an aeroplane. Clearly hit the water and

didn't explode. There are probably hundreds of them in the River

Thames. This is what it looks like but it has meant alarming headlines

and a stressful build-up to the race for the new Boat Race director in

her first year, Michelle Deet. Welcome to the Boat Race. What has

it been like? Well this wasn't in my job description. We inherited an

ongoing situation this morning and we have had superb support from the

Metropolitan Police and Marine Police Unit. Everyone's intent was

for the Boat Race to go ahead. I'm delighted to say the green light is

go. Will it have any impact on the race, on the warm-up of where the

crews can go? Absolutely no impact whatsoever. We have the full open

course and the crews are ready to G the build-up is fantastic. -- ready

to go. We have a festival atmosphere here and in Putney. There is nothing

inhibiting us today. There was talk that the flotilla behind might be

reduced. Any word on that? We put in place a robust contingency. Wep

wanted it to go ahead. It meant the start would've gone to the same

position and we've been restricted by bridges. But we had a plan on

place that the crews can warm-up on the course. We have tal enned

umpires who know this class back to front. We had a plan B but plan A is

in place. We can all relax? We can all relax and smile and ease

ourselves into a wonderful afternoon of sport for the spectators and the

millions watching at home around the UK and around the world. Thank you.

Good luck with the rest of the day. Let's hope it goes increedably

smoothly from now, the cox in 2012 and scam George Gnash, you won it

with Cambridge. What disruption will this cause Zoe, to the heads of the

crews, and what they were planning for their warm-up? I think the main

difference would have been where they would have been warming up. If

they'd closed the river below Fulham bridge, the crews would've had to

warm up on the course, and there is a lot more people, it is busier and

you would have to time things differently. I'm sure in the grand

scheme of things you can factor in that. They had yesterday to think

about t and hopefully will have had a plan B. Where it was discovered

was beyond Putney Bridge, way back before the start but that's where

the crews traditional do their warm-up pieces. George s there any

advantage in having something else for the crews to talk about and

think about and something to occupy everybody's mind? They'll certainly

be telling themselves there is. Usually in igs swas like this - in

situations like this, you spin it into a positive. It is a highly

pressurised occasion, these guys have been thinking about it every

day for the last six months at least. Sometimes it can wind you up

and stress you out. A thing like an old Second World War bomb can put a

smile on your Is fa. You know Michelle and their team have done a

great job sorting it out and we have all confidence the race will go

well. I haven't seen a crowd this big and busy for years. The women's

Boat Race is due off at 4.35. The Boat Race for the men at 5. -- 4. --

5. 58. This is what we have coming um.

! We'll have to try harder. Cambridge women are hoping to remain

high and dry after last year when they were low and very, very wet.

Giving up was not really an option. Dark Blue but all-black, a new

experience for New Zealander, Harriet Austin. This is one of the

most amazing years of my wife. The women's race starts in just over

half an hour, Cambridge haven't won on this course and Oxford are going

for five in a row. Last year they split honours.

Today's men's race is predicted to be close indeed. Cambridge favourite

for women's, but men's race, people who are predicting the result, in

this atmosphere down here. Plenty of entertainment on offer and good

picnics. The crowds enjoying everything on offer, including the

glorious sight of Gloriana. Built for the Queen's jubilee. When the

crowds are this deep, it is a difficult thing for the minibuses to

be negotiate their way through. They managed to and the Cambridge men

arriving. Their average weight is 14.10. Their average height 66'5".

The Cook brothers will be influential and we've seen Jamie

Cook and Olie there. And William Warr, only the third man to switch

sides, having rowed for Cambridge in 2015. Now in the bow seat for

Oxford. There is the women's crew. None of them have rowed in a Boat

Race before. An experienced can Aidan woman rower going through

there. Flo Pickles there. Ashton Brown is the President for the

Cambridge women. She contracted pneumonia after last year's race

having taken the full brunt of the waves in the bow seat. Melissa

Williams there. It is a magnificent sight. It has been a long build-up

combining the training with their studies but it is a sign, Zoe Dell

Toleda and Dame Katherine Grainger of the depth and talent in women's

rowing. How much improvement have you seen in the three years, the

third time we have seen them here? Well, the crews are definitely

improving. I think that was going to build on itself, you know once it

started being seen more and hopefully people would be more

interested in coming and getting involved in the race and hopefully

it'll have a knock-on effect on university rowing all around the

country, not just Oxford and Cambridge. Zoe, in terms of how the

Boat Race feeds into Olympicer if formance, you coxed the women's

eight who -- Olympic performance. You coxed the women's eight. . It is

more stressful for a spectator than it did at the time. It felt in kroe.

Disappointing at first. We wanted to win but we obviously realised we'd

done something different and getting on the podium with something

historic, it was great to be involved. And Katherine granger is

back with us here. For the first time, not as a full-time rower,

having announced your retirement after a magnificent performance in

Rio. I know. Like Zoe I think we had a fantastic time in Rio and great

success in the men's and women's side. It is hard, hard being back in

this environment and in the being in lycra and in a boat. It is an

adatingive and obsessive wonderful world of sport. -- addictive. Rio

was special. A hugely special part in your life. A short time ago you

went to meet the Queen. Well in an Olympic final, it is practice for

meeting the Queen and getting your gong. You get to share it with your

family. It is a celebration. Not many times during your career do you

acknowledge what you have done and what you have achieved with your

team-mates and the amazing results. A day like that, you get to stop and

think - that went well. Everyone in rowing agrees, given your 20-year

commitment to the sport but the one person that can say - well you won't

but we will say it for you, you helped women an one, Helen Glover is

with Lima Kenzie now in Hammersmith Bridge -- Lee Mackenzie Well, what a

good excuse this is to be out here, this is the rowing clubbing serving

alcohol, not these people. You mentioned Helen Glover and I'm

delighted to say she's with me. Let's talk about Rio. You defended

your Olympic crown. . Did you think you could do it again Well, we had

targets on our back and people were going to strive to beat us, we knew

that and we had to have respect for the people they were racing. We were

never complacent Describe the moments? Very surreal. Crossing the

line and managing to defend the title we had in lob -- in London.

That was our goal for the two years. To wake up and achieve it in front

of the statue in front of us, it couldn't have been more picturesque.

You have been involved in interesting projects since but in

terms of rowing, what can you tell us? I'm undecided. I decided to take

a year out. I knew I was going to do that. I thought I would have this

moment when I knew what I wanted but as yet I haven't decided. You are

not leaving home without your medals? No, I still have them, this

is the one from Rio, I'm proud of that. I know you have been involved

in the celebrity race, we'll talk to those guys in a minute. For the

moment, thank you very much. Well, the coin toss, Kezia Denne,

12, and who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, was there for

the coin toss. It was won by Cambridge. They've chosen Surrey.

Oxford both times have chosen Surrey and have been victorious. To talk

you through the douse and explain why the bends can be more

advantageous than the other, here is Andrew could thor. -- Andrew Cotter.

It is a four mile course of the Thames. After three and a half

minutes, the mile marker is reached and the landmark of the former

Harrods furnished depository. The majority of crews leading here go on

to win. Then a large, sweeping turn past halfway into the straight of

Chiswick Reach and passed the island was the often into a headwind, this

can be exposed in rougher water. Then it turns back to favour the

north bank, under Barnes Bridge, into the final 1000 metres and

towards the finished just before Chiswick Bridge. The women have been

carrying their boats because it is a very unglamorous sport. You have to

do your own carrying. The Oxford crew are similarly well supported.

There doesn't seem to be the animosity. The Cambridge crew are

very strong, very experienced. The Oxford crew are all Boat Race

debutants. We will have some great shots for you as well as good sound,

which is always entertaining, particularly when coxes are

involved, because they can say things they probably don't mean to

say. Our stellar Reverend line-up here has been added to by the

presence of Constantine Louloudis, a magnificent Boat Race. How many

wins, four? I think so. Olympic gold medallist as well, joining George,

Katherine, Zoe and myself. Zoe, you coxed yesterday in the veterans'

race. And you are a punchy cox. And Matthew Pinsent, who will be

umpiring today's Boat Race, was umpiring you yesterday and he had

quite a lot to say to you. Have a look at this. You must leave room,

Zoe! This was approaching Hammersmith Bridge. You were on the

right in the Oxford boat. What are you doing wrong? Good question. What

I am doing wrong is that I am in Cambridge's water as they were

rowing back to us. I am not sure what went wrong, but they caught us

up. My thinking was that if I moved out of the way, they would just win,

so you have to do something in that situation. The umpire's decision was

that you were disqualified. Which was a fair decision. I did tell

Matthew I was going to make sure he had a good warm up before today.

Stam, in terms of rowing discourse, can you pace yourself and how do you

do that? Well, you have to pace yourself, otherwise it will catch up

with you quickly. It is a real trade-off because you don't want to

let the other crew get clear water. Then you will be on the

psychological back foot. But it is a long way. Exactly, and you have to

maintain that effort. Sometimes, even the support doesn't make it

feel less painful. When you are watching experienced rowers, it can

look easy as if it is all about power in the legs and a bit of work

with the arms and good technique. But to show you how difficult it is,

it is best to look at people who don't have a clue what they are

doing. So we assembled a group of some ex-Olympians and Boat Race

aficionados, but also some complete novices to the sport of rowing,

captained by Sir Steve Redgrave and James Cracknell. This is the

build-up to the celebrity Boat Race 2017.

Morning! Lovely day to be doing some punting on the river. On a pleasant

late winter morning, representatives from the most important section of

society, celebrities, gather on the banks of the River Thames to begin a

journey. I have heard rumours of Olympians. That has got me excited.

I want to win it. I am not here to come second. These stars have been

summoned by a night of the realm and one of his former lieutenants to

enter uncharted water in a charity race from Putney to Hammersmith in

aid of Cancer Research UK. What are your tactics as a coach? Pick the

best rowers. But you know it is not about how good your best rowers are

in the crew, it is how good the worst one is. You only go as fast as

the slowest person. Going first? Rock, paper, scissors. For Redgrave,

the selection strategy was. A good cox, followed by some who were just

quite tall. As well as the odd pic simply for crew morale. But

Cracknell decided on comedy in the driving seat, and then put his faith

in with, coordination and some serious Olympic and Paralympic

pedigree. So with those crews of varying degrees of ability selected,

time to get down to some hard rowing, on dry land for now. Is

expected, Sophie Raworth has her terminator face on. He is rowing

with one hand. It is in the bag already. Dan Walker is trying to

take us out one by one. Rivalry firmly established, a session on the

water was calling. But first, some complex technical advice from James.

That is the front there. But if the back. -- that is the back. And there

were early problems for Team Cracknell. Zoe Lyons is funny. But a

lack of experience was putting the pink crew in trouble, and

Hammersmith Bridge just came out of nowhere. So Cracknell played his

ace, swapping Zoe for Great Britain cox Henry Fieldman. At the moment,

we are not floating, we are sitting. In terms of rowing, racing and

sitting, work in progress. While in Team Redgrave, another comic was

finding the move from stand up to sitting down and rowing rather

difficult. He feels he is holding everyone else back. He is, but he

needs to relax as that is the only way forward. He will get there, he

just needs another couple of years. I think we are going to smash Team

Redgrave out of the park. Both boats are full of competitive people. We

are going to be unstoppable. We are not putting a unitard on! Sun that

is the only reason I came! The biggest problem is the rowing side

of it. I can't really do it. This is what happens to me a lot in my life.

I was able to take the instructions, but not replicate them like a human

man normally would. They are all enthusiastic. If they can stay

relaxed and we get conditions like this, they have a chance of

surviving. But one member have to do a lot more work even to get to the

start line. # you're the best! Nothing's can

keep you down. To sum that up, running is

difficult? That is a fair summary. If you had to sum up my experience,

it was that bit where it said there was a caption that said, he feels he

is holding everybody back them with a picture of my crestfallen figure.

I am not sure what was more uncomfortable for you, the rowing or

the unitard. Ore, I remember when you use to talk about sport. You

have been in some form of Lycra since September. I asked everybody

before today, we are all wearing the Lycra, right? But nobody had the

confidence to pull that back out. But whether it was wearing the Lycra

or getting in a boat and rowing for the first time ever, we all wanted

to make sure we commit to this because we just wanted to raise

awareness and money for Cancer research. It was such a great cause.

Lycra aside, we had a really good time. Mark will tell you

differently, but we did have fun. Becky, did your sporting

determination come back to you even though it was for a good cause? No.

I was so bad! He was hitting me in the back and we kept fighting. We

couldn't get the synchronisation right. You are a dance and I am a

swimmer and we couldn't do it. We were trying to use our feet in the

boat and we found that we shouldn't, because that doesn't work. James,

what were you thinking? You competed in Rio Annapurna pigs, and you got

involved with this bunch. -- you competed in Rio and the Olympics. It

was really good fun. They picked it up really well. They sell themselves

short, but awesome job. You will see in a minute in the BT. -- VVT.

And Harry Judd from McFly, who was part of Team Redgrave,

If you access the BBC Sport Facebook page,

Harry will answer your questions live from The Thames from 4.30.

He'll be following the women's race and then he'll be

up with us to watch the men's race here at Hammersmith.

But for now, back to Clare at Putney.

We'll see how the two teams get on just before the men's

race in about an hour, but now it's time to concentrate

This time last year, we were talking about the weather. It affected the

outcome for the women's race. For Cambridge, it became more about

trying to survive than beating Oxford, as they were fighting that

sinking feeling. There are plenty of different

emotions on the day of the Boat Race. Lots of excitement, a bit of

nerves as well. On the morning of the race, we did notice it was

raining. It is sunshine right now, but we have had four seasons in a

day. We are used to rowing through different conditions and

experiencing pretty much anything that British weather can chuck at

us. But there was no way to expect quite how severe the weather would

be. We knew it was bad. We perhaps didn't appreciate that the swell

would hit exactly at the wrong place at the wrong time. There was never a

thought that this was something drastically out of the ordinary.

Guys, get ready. Shoulders down. The first stroke is my favourite part of

the race, because it is the moment when anything is possible. We had a

pretty good start. We managed to keep an overlap and were pushing

back later on. COMMENTATOR: Cambridge are hanging

in there. 30 seconds after Hammersmith Bridge, it just looked

like the sea. It is brutal down here. You can see the water, and

Cambridge are in real difficulty. You realise about is getting deeper

and deeper and the pumps are working, but not enough. Cambridge

are sinking. When the umpire flagged us, I didn't see him doing it. My

first thought was, she had better put her hand up. It is about pride

to finish the rate at this point. Giving up was not really an option.

The sense for us was disappointment at not being able to race the race

we thought we could race. They have been beaten by the river. After,

some people said we were brave for continuing. I had a hard time with

that, because I don't think I did anything different than most rowers

would do. You finish what you have started.

And she is in the Boe seat again, president of the Cambridge women's

crew for 2017. There is the line-up. It is a very strong looking side.

Cath Bishop has joined me. Hannah was president last year. Quite

difficult for you, watching those shots back? It is very difficult,

especially knowing that I am not racing this year. When you race,

there is a feeling that you have the opportunity to right a wrong. So I

know that Ashton and Miriam feel that this year, but I did not have

the opportunity to do that. Cath, how have things changed for

Cambridge's women? There has been a lot of investment. I feel as if we

have suddenly turned a corner. We have a new boathouse where all the

crews can train together. That feels like a professional training

environment. It looks like you have built it with air, space and light

in mind. You have a view of the outside. Beautiful views of Ely, for

sure. Looking ahead to the race this year, what are your hopes for your

team-mates and friends? Obviously, everyone supporting Cambridge hopes

for a Light Blue victory not only in the women's race, but also in the

men's and the reserve raises. Ikast, what is your view of the line-up?

There is a lot of experience. . We have our strongest crew in the blue

boat and the reserve crew. They are coming to aadvantage what happened

last year where they weren't able it give their best but also the last

few years where we have been building to create a tremendous

training environment to support them. We hope that pays off today.

Well, good luck. Oxford have none returning members of the crew. Their

president not able to row because she's injured. Harriet Austin has

taken over as the boat captain, alongside some really rigorous

student work, she has an awful lot on her plate. I don't actually know

what makes mep want to keep going through this. -- me want to keep

going. We are students and we have a full academic schedule. On top of

that we're training pretty full time, too.

The team-mates in a rowing crew are unique to other ones. You see people

at their lowest point but you also get to experience the biggest highs

as well. I think it's really important to be

part of a team. You can't sleep in five minutes later in the morning.

Your crew is there, going through the same things as you as well. As a

crew, we're working towards giving the best race on the day. All the

preparation will see us in good stead.

The Boat Race is a pretty special race. It's not necessarily the best

crew that wins but it's the best crew on the day that will win. I

think there is nothing better than crossing the line in first place,

knowing you've given it your best shot. Harriet Austin who is studying

for an MBA and she's the boat captain at Oxford. At 28 she has

been an international rower for New Zealand. And Emily Cameron there,

she's 34, a Canadian international. We really do have perfect conditions

here in London. We say welcome to viewers of BBC World News for

coverage of the Cancer Research UK Boat Race. The women's Boat Race is

four or five minutes away and an hour and five minutes to the Boat

Race. And as you can see, the countdown

clock is ticking down. The tide has turned or is turning at the moment.

They come in on the flood tide from Putney to Mortlake. Four and a

quarter miles. Last year's Oxford President joins us now. There has

been talk about the illness, the injuries your crew have suffered.

How is the mood in the camp and how are you feeling today? At this point

before the race, everyone is incredibly nervous. But, really you

just have to deal with those feelings, put them in a box and lock

it away and get on with the job, really. No matter what the situation

is in the background, really. When you look at that crew and you look

at the line-up. Where do you see the strengths in the boat and how well

do you think they are gelling together? I think the power in the

boat at this stage, from a combination of the different ages.

There is a big spread of ages, some freshers and really experienced

athletes. That's one of the unique things about the Boat Race crews,

such a spread. I think the power is in building on these differences and

really building it into a cohesive crew. You can see the Oxford cox

there, Eleanor Shearer. You have been in this position. What is the

cox doing now with their crews? What are they saying and how much can

they plan for what is to come? The main thing you are trying to do now

is make sure your crew is staying calm and focussed on what is coming

up. That might be telling them to remember the good rhythm, to row in

the middle. It might be saying focus on the first stroke, you will be

making sure you are pointed in the right direction, when the race goes

off, you go the way you want to go. Conditions out there look so

different from last year, aren't they? You must be really jealous

Incredibly jealous, yeah. I mean the thing is when you've got the Boat

Race you say anything can happen but when it is water like this, it is

really every athlete's dream. Maddy, for the rowers, you have done a warm

of had up of how long so far? How are your muscles feeling? Normally a

warm-up would be around 40 minutes, you gradually build it up and

they'll have done pieces at race pace, so they'll have a taste of

what it is going to feel like and they'll be willing and raring to go.

Would you rather be in the boat or watching? I'd love to be in the boat

right now. I've always hated this bit at the start where you wait but

as soon as the buzzer goes, it is an incredible feeling. Well, it is

nearly time for the women's Boat Race, can Cambridge win it for the

first time on The Tideway or will Oxford be victorious once again?

Very shortly you will be hearing our full commentary team. Kath Bishop

and Zoe and Wayne is on the course and leading the way is Andrew could

thor. #

-- Andrew Cotter. Thank you very much, and what a day

it is. The two crews sit there for what

must seem like an age. They have been sitting there for a good few

minutes before we first look at them. These are the moments of real

tension where they wait and wait and try and gather their thoughts. The

chatter comes from the two quokss and we are moments away from the

72nd edition of the women's Boat Race. It doesn't have vted hisry of

the men's evetted but here they line up and get ready. -- have the

history of the men's event. The coxes will make sure they are

showing they are ready or not. Hand up if they are not ready which you

see from the cox of Cambridge. Matthew Holland. So he is ready now.

So too, Oxford. Eleanor Shearer's arm is down.

Attention. Go. A simple instruction to begin the 72nd women's Boat Race.

You can see on the middle set station there, a dreadful start. A

dreadful start. It looks like someone has caught a crab in the

Oxford boat. That could be... At the beginning of the

of the race, Oxford could have' lost it. Cambridge the favourites. Nobody

expecting that, in the opening moments a lead of three or four

lengths. Is there anyway back now? It is hard staerting on The Tideway

they have to sit with their blades facing the wrong way round. It is

much trickier. They'll have a surge of adrenaline. The Oxford crew.

They'll be trying to resurge, start back up. Heart will be pumping. But

for Cambridge, very comfortable. This is, in temples how you expect

and plan for the start of a race to go, this is the stuff of nightmares

for Oxford, on Middlesex. They mustn't be complacent. They

know they still have to shall push on. But Oxford, they have all to do.

Far more. Look at the leaders. They come back Putney boat houses. Such a

shame. Cambridge the favourite but not the way they want to start.

They'll given themselves a lot to do. Wayne is down on the river

watching. You will be as shocked as the rest of us. Incredibly

disappointing, the Oxford fore seat starting a crab. And they were

underdogs to begin with. It was horrible. Being here behind the

boats, I wish they started it over, so we have a clean race. Sadly it is

not to be. They have a heck of a lot of work to do to get back in the

race, this is going to be very disappointing for them and Cambridge

who wanted to see a good, clean race. A huge test for Oxford. And I

think in particular for their cox, Eleanor Shearer, like so many in the

Oxford boat A little bit inexperienced in Boat Races, racing

in the tied way but she has to try somehow to lift the crew. -- in the

tideway. It'll be tough, they'll have lost focus. People will have

thought - what the hell happened? They have to put that behind them.

They have to focus in. A head race now. From a cox's point of view.

Such a difficult thing to do. Obviously you can see the crew in

front. You need to keep your crew motivated but at the same time you

can't tell them they are right next to them because they will know they

aren't. Let's lack at the start. -- look at the start. A huge lead for

Cambridge. This is where it went wrong for Oxford.

Yes, you can see the four seat there, Rebecca went deep on the

first stroke. Easy to do. It is difficult to start with the stream

rushing past you and the adronely. You will be really stressed and

tense -- the adrenaline. I have never seen that. The oar, the blade

went in so, so deep. The lead, if anything is extending. Oxford a

sense of desperation. They mustn't chase it too much in the early

stages and spend all their fuel. Hopefully Eleanor can take control

and say the start didn't work. The thing is, this is a long race, they

have to get into their rhythm and go hunting after Cambridge. It is a

different mentality now. They have to get their speed, maximum,

relentless rhythm, going stroke-by-stroke to hunt Cambridge

down. It is tougher. For Cambridge they have an opportunity to relax.

Look at the rhythm. They are such a strong crew. You can hear the coxes

giving the instructions. And looking through the Cambridge crew, Melissa

Wilson racing in her fourth race, and holly Hill, Ashton Brown, Imogen

Grant. It has that experience. It is difficult to see anyway back.

Cambridge have a ten-second lead. They have immense experience. It is

a classy crew. It is a shame they weren't given that test. But they

will want it get a great time and increase the distance every stroke

because they've had a tough few years. They have not won since 2012.

They'll want to show what they can do. The crowd, we caught a glimpse

of them waiting near Hammersmith Bridge and they will all be stunned

to see the lead that Cambridge have. They won't know what happened near

the start. But they'll look down and there Ashton Brown, how different to

last year for her when the waves were crashing over her in the second

half the rest and the president leading her crew at the moment and

through actual and metaphorical calmer waters this year, but in

total control at the moment. Matthew Holland, just driving them

on. I don't want you to drop it. Hold

it. They are racing themselves out here. They will want to show what

they can do and set the standard. This is one of the best crews we

have seen in the Boat Race. They are out there. Trying to hold their

split. They know how fast they are going and they don't want to let

that come off at all. Even though they don't have a crew beside them.

That's the standed a they will want to set. We were looking at the

trophy. You see engraved not just who wins but the winning margin, 25

lengths for last year, which was rather inflated for the conditions.

That will be in the back of the mind of the Cambridge rowers to make

amends and get as big a margin of strike as they can? Yes they'll want

to avenge that, that Oxford's name has been on it for the last few

years. They named their boat the Light's Up. Yes, they have been in

the dark, struggling, they have been trying to rebuild and they'll have

that feeling they are coming out of the dark and the run of losses, but

the light is coming. The size of the crowd for this rains the men's race

to come, they are draped over Hammersmith Bridge, which is only

open to spectators for a few years ago again, it used to be closed off

but this is one of the noisiest parts of the course. Because of the

spectators, above them. They try to shoot through the Second lamp post.

That's the line of the quickest water. The deepest water. The tide

comes in and Cambridge so, so far clear they all watch and we can see

Oxford in the far distance still to come under the bridge. The lead is

stretched We have a boat here with future Olympians in it. Girls who

learned to row at Cambridge and who are doing well at QB trials. Wayne

continues to watch a -- GB trials. Wayne continues to watch. Yesk

looking like the crew everyone said they were. It is not hard to do

that, looking strong, when they have the lead that they do. Think they

would have won anyway but it is a shame they zrnt a closer race for

longer. The bend plays around to the left as we look at t around to the

south-west and it'll favour - I was going to say it would favour Oxford

t would if they were racing side-by-side but Cambridge can

choose twharts, so no advantage -- choose their waters. So no advantage

for Oxford. It is so calm compared to last year. Sometimes you get

through Hammersmith Bridge and it turns around different direction and

the wind splits up the water but a beautiful shot as we look down on

Cambridge, so far clear in this Boat Race.

You can see how supreme they are. This is a quality crew. Melissa

Wilson, who is stroking it, learned to row at Cambridge. She has lost

three Boat Races, so how sweet this must feel for her. She is leading

the way. She is going to be a bright star for Great Britain in the rowing

team. She has been in the under 23 team and he has so much talent. It

will be a great feeling for her, fourth time lucky, hopefully. She

teams up with Holly Hill, who raced last year in the Blue Boat, and

Miriam Ude. Those are the returning Blues, those who have experienced

the defeat last year, the painful defeat. Again, a stunning shot of

this sweep of the Thames as we look down, Cambridge are so very clear of

Oxford, who must try and find something. Your cox will try and lie

to you and said we are hanging in there, but they will know how far

behind they are. You have to be positive. You can't just sit there

and say you are getting obliterated by the other group. But at the same

time, you have to be realistic. She will probably be saying, let's keep

working and chipping away. At the end of the day, anything can happen.

Last year is a prime example of what can be thrown at you. So you can't

give up until you get to the line. More great shots of the crew. Imogen

for Cambridge is a fantastic lightweight rower who again is

coming up in the under 23 trials. We are seeing many faces here that I

think we will be seeing again. It is painful work for Oxford at the

moment. Painful for both crews, but at least there which have the salve

of knowing they are clear and heading for victory. We are well

past halfway now and there is still some distance to go, but Cambridge

know that victory is coming. The last four years have been wins for

Oxford. Last year in particular was horrible for those in the Cambridge

boat, but look at that. Such a different tale. The Oxford crew knew

they were underdogs. They had a strong team atmosphere within them

and they want to make sure that no matter what the media were saying

and no matter what the odds were, they were going to put in their best

performance. So as you said, such a shame to see that start. But there

is no way these girls are going to give up. They are tough. They have

got pride and dignity. They will want to show how well they can row

bomber regardless of the start. -- regardless. The cox tries to drive

them on. A very placid waters, and the bend continues to sweep around

towards the south-west. The gap is not opening up further. I am looking

for some crumbs of comfort for Oxford, but it is a dominant

performance for Cambridge. How different it might have been of

Oxford had had a decent start, we just don't know. It is a shame,

because Oxford also had the benefit of that first bend, which would have

given them a quarter to a third of a length on Cambridge and hopefully

would have given them a bit of impetus at the start. The American

in the fourth seed got into all sorts of trouble in the start. She

is the least experienced rower out there. That was an extreme example,

but she got really caught out at the start. It is a team event, and these

things happen as a team. The whole crew is responsible for that. It

happened to be her blade, but it could have been another. The balance

was off at the start and it seemed that they suddenly lurched. And they

do seem to be holding now. They are not going to let Cambridge get more

distance. They are going to try and keep on it. It is testament to their

strength and passion that they are trying to stay with this. It is a

fairly new thing for Cambridge to be rating on the Tiber in the Boat

Race, but they are on course for a course record as well -- rating on

the Tideway. The bandstand will appear on the north bank to the left

of your picture. From there, there is about a mile to go and they will

continue to put their foot down and try and achieve as big a victory as

possible, perhaps in a record time. What a great site to see a strong

demonstration of women's rowing. They are a fantastic crew with good

timing. It is great for our sport to see that, and such a shame that the

Oxford girls didn't get that opportunity. But they are going to

dig in all the way, no question. I am trying to estimate the length of

the lead that Cambridge are going to succeed by the.

They have one man, that cox. Cambridge are heading for a huge

victory, with Oxford left trailing, getting the muddy water of the

leaders, Cambridge. It all goes back to the start. Cambridge came into

this race as strong favourites, so I suspect they might have had too much

for the Oxford crew in any case, but we will never know. What a great day

for Matthew Holland. He is 19. This is the biggest stage he has been on.

He has one mega- national schools races. And let's not forget Eleanor

Shearer, the coxswain of Oxford, was at school with him, a couple of

years older. It will be strange for him to have looked across and seen

her on the start line. Getting closer now to Barnes Bridge as we

look down on this Cambridge crew, who have led by some distance from

the earliest moments of this race. And a psychological test for Oxford

to try and make sure that gap doesn't open up any more. Cambridge

are heading towards the huge numbers of spectators. The course is 4.2

miles. The Thames is lined by spectators looking forward to the

men's race to come and enjoying this dominant performance by Cambridge.

Whatever happened at the start, this has been an impressive performance.

Undoubtedly. You could hear the Oxford cox saying, brave and strong.

But this day is all about Cambridge. Getting closer now to Chiswick

Bridge and to victory. The Cambridge crew are just a distant speck on the

horizon to Oxford, who continue to try and produce something. But this

victory is going to be not quite the 25 lengths of Oxford last year, but

not too far away from it, and in perfect waters. No excuses for

either crew, no hiding place. Cambridge continue on their

relentless march towards victory. They have been building something

special. Rob Baker has done a special job. This crew is full of

talent, with future Olympians. They hope they are starting an era for

Cambridge, kicking off today. As you said, there are faces to watch in

that boat, particularly Melissa Wilson and Holly Hill, potential

future GB senior athletes, I am sure. As well as Alice White and

Imogen Grant. It is exciting to see this standard and a celebration of

what Oxford and Cambridge can do with women rowers. The flotilla

behind turns up the water and Oxford are not too far in front of that

flotilla and a long way distant, Cambridge. Ashton Brown and Imogen

Grant, Holly Hill, Alice White and Melissa Wilson and Matthew Holland,

the cox, are getting closer to victory. Last year, Cambridge were

overwhelmed by Oxford and the Thames itself. So different this year on

the, waters. The Dark Blue run is going to win for the first time

since 2012. And for the very first time on this famous stretch of the

River Thames, it is going to be, with the final few pools of the oar,

a likely win, a calm Thames today as the cox cries out. It is going to be

a record time. And the finish line calls... It is

victory for Cambridge in the Women's Boat Race, and what a victory. A

record time and a huge margin and relief for those who tasted defeat

before. And my, how they have made amends. Their opposition had such a

dreadful start, but this crew, I think, would have beaten most today.

Oxford, tired and totally dejected, come home a distant second in the

72nd edition of the Women's Boat Race. So difficult for them.

Sometimes, it is a good race and the contrast between the two crews is

clear. But today for Oxford, it will be doubly painful. That doesn't take

away from the joy and celebration is richly deserved for Cambridge. A lot

of hard work has gone on in Cambridge to turn things around from

where they have been. They probably didn't expect to turn it around in

that spectacular style, but they have. Rob Baker has done a strong

job and they are building something. They have a new boathouse. They have

had things go the right way. And what it means to Melissa Wilson.

Three times, she has lost and now she is a winner in the Boat Race.

Behind her, Myriam Goudet, also a returning blue who lost last year.

This is humbling for Oxford, because it has been a dreadful day. All the

planning and practice that goes into it, and wrong from the start. The

dejection is total and obvious. We are not singling out people because

the crew will lose as a crew. Rebecca will get comfort from the

rest. But if you sit under Chiswick Bridge and think of how wrong it

went at Putney Bridge, it was awful. But again, we stress how strong the

Cambridge crew was. It was a very big win for Cambridge. Undoubtedly a

really classy Cambridge crew. They have some great talent. Really hard

to see a race go that way. You never see in other sporting

events, the difference so starkly highlighted between winning and

losing. In a Boat Race, it is nothing at all. This end they run of

four Oxford victories and it might be the start of something for

Cambridge. As you said, they have the new boathouse and some good

funding, as Oxford do, but they have a good programme going forward. They

won in 2012, but there was a long gap before that, so it has been the

least successful period in that club's history and that is always

painful for any side. So there is a sense of relief that they have

things in place. The boathouse makes a big difference and with talent

like this, it is so exciting to put it together. All those who support

the Light Blues will be celebrating. Will the celebrations continue with

the men's race? The pictures say everything. Sustenance is being

taken on by Holly Hill and Alice White. And a record time. Sometimes

that depends on a lack of water coming off the land, but that was

such a strong performance by Cambridge. Oxford will have a

postmortem and repercussions. We will hand to Clare.

Well that stunning success for them is a new record. They beat the

record by 2015 by well over a minute. Faster than Cambridge's men

recorded last year and faster than Oxford's men in 2014. Conditions

huge Lynne fluence but a significant marker to go under 19 minutes and

for the returning blues, Ashton Brown, Holly Hill and Miriam Goudet

the first French woman to win and for Melissa Wilson as well.

Redemption from their disappointment last year when they barely made it

to the finish. Water coming on board. They kept going, they were

absolutely determined to finish the race last year and then the 12

months in between, all those hours and hours of training, with one

thing in mind and that was this - victory in the women's Boat Race and

they deserve every second of the celebrations and disappointing,

Katherine that it is that Oxford had such a poor start and it wasn't able

to develop into a great race for Cambridge they've achieved what they

set out to do. They have, as we have been hearing in the commentary, it

is not the kind of start. You want to win in that style but you don't

want to win in the problem that happened at the start for Oxford. It

takes nothing away from the cage bridge crew. -- from the Cambridge

crew. They should really be enjoying the celebrations, they are truly

successful. Jason Mohammed is down there with the president, the woman

who contracted contract pneumonia after last year's race, Ashton Brown

She's barely out of the boat. The celebrations mean so much to you,

last year I remember the tears, what a different interview? A definitely

different place this year. I couldn't have done it without the

squad. I'm so proud of my squad and the emat that. You remember the

scenario last year when we spoke about 20 m away, you were in tears,

the crew were in tears with what happened and what an incredible

achievement for you this year. We got the race we wanted to have. Last

year we felt a bit robbed because we didn't get to race. This year I had

an amazing team with me. We did t right to the end But what a story,

after last year and the disaster, then you having pneumonia. You

battled back and you are a Victoria president. I mean, it is team. --

victorious. I couldn't have done it without them How do you retain the

focus knowing Oxford were in all sort of disarray from the start? We

talked about the scenarios we could have going in and we wanted from

that start, we were talking down the boat about as big a margin as

possible t wasn't about crossing the line fist, it was about making it a

real victory. I think we did it by a huge margin which was our goal. What

about your crew. On the left-hand side. The massive roar they gave you

when you came home? They are a great team. Supportive all year. I had a

really tough go this year, but they helped me through it all. I'm really

grateful. Very soon you will be spraying champagne around. How does

it sound? Sounds good. My third Boat Race and I haven't had any champagne

yet An incredible story. Matthew Holland the cox is with me, Clare,

many congratulations. How did you maintain the rhythm and focus

knowing Oxford were having such big problems at the start We set off at

the start to have internal focus. We knew our rhythm was strong, I had to

reinforce that message. Make sure they didn't get too confident. They

had to finish the race Take us into the camp. How much were you fired up

by what happened last year and the devastation in the crew? I mean, it

was, just watching the video back before, for that to happen, and

having put in so much work must have been so horrible. I sort of felt

like that I had to make sure the returners in the crew were able to

forget that for the new experience, I wanted to make sure this made up

for the fact that last year they had a horrible racial And Ashton --

horrible race. And Ashton, a lot of modesty but how much has she helped

the team Her fight has driven the squad on. She's leading us through

this, it has been fantastic, especially when things have got

tough. Well thank you very much, Clare back to you. Apologies, a few

problems on the mic break up. But Matthew a classicically trained

singer, he does a vocal warm-up before he starts coxing. Utter

despair and you have to feel for Rebecca Esselstein but as Kath

Bishop said in commentary, it is the whole crew that upset the balance of

the boat and that's why things can happen but it was over almost before

it began and Zoe and Katherine are with me. Let's look at the start and

we'll hear the Oxford cox, Eleanor Shearer. So, Rebecca Esselstein is

in the four seat but if we just listen in. You can see the boat is

off balance. OK, Rebecca recover. Hold up, Rebecca get your blade

back. That's t forward, and go. -- that's it. Forward and go. And those

sort of five, ten seconds must feel like minutes, Zoe. Yeah, you could

hear she actually stopped the boat. Easy there is the call we use to

stop the boat. Becky was clearly struggling to get the blade out with

the speed of the boat that was being carried with the other seven having

to row. So all seven had to stop to allow her to get the blade out T

happens, it happened with one of my crew mates at a Championship a few

years ago. It happens. It is a shame it happened to soon. Victory is

assured, it is unlikely they would get caught but they rowed on to try

to set a record and they have done so. Absolutely. For both Oxford and

Cambridge, they have one race to prepare for the whole year, it is

one race so even if it is over in the first few metres, they are not

going to stop there. For them, anything can happen. Four are

returning from last year when the weather caused them to have an

horrific experience. And they had a lot to prove. They had a lot to

prove they were in the best Cambridge boat that had been put

out. To be fair to Cambridge, they know what Oxford are feeling, it is

utter despair and they will console them. Let's get a reaction from them

and their captain, Harriet Austin is with Jason now? Clare and Harriet,

this is obviously the last thing you want to do, doing an interview on

live television but what happened at the start? Obviously the start

didn't go as we planned. I think we got together really well. I'm really

proud of the girls. We put in a good race but today was Cambridge's day.

How did you manage to carry on digging, knowing you were so far

behind and you had worked so hard for it? Well, we prepare for every

situation, it is obviously not one that we'd want but Ellie did a great

job at coxing. I'm pleased we found our rhythm again and got back on to

something good Can you tell us what happened, what was your view? What

happened? I mean, we had a minor upset on the start. Again it was

something we had planned for, so we knew how to get back together. We

got back on it and as Harriet said I'm managed that we had got a

rhythm, and had a race to be proud of. Certainly not the race we

planned but on the day our opponents did better. I know it must be very

difficult for you. Thank you very much indeed. Well, very good of

Eleanor and Harriet to talk, so eloquently, because it is just an

utterly depressing, upsetting feeling and the contrast is

enormous. As Andrew Cotter said, I don't think there is another

sporting event where the difference between winning and losing is so

great and here the celebrations of combradge. A huge moment for doer of

Cambridge. A huge moment for them -- a huge moment for Cambridge. A

triumph there and also of patience. Yes a lot goes into the race and as

was said in the commentary, a long many years planning for Rob who

coaches the crew and the set-up. So a tough few years. So lovely to see

that level of celebration even if the race is quite simple and

straightforward for them. It shows how much it means to win it. And

such experience, like international rowers and Imogen Grant who signed

up for a taster because she wanted to get two free drinks. And rowers

who went to the Olympics. We'll rejoin them for the celebration but

the coin toss for the men's boat took place. In the women's race it

was irrelevant, it was over before they got to the first bend but

Surrey has proved a popular choice and once again, it was the choice of

the Oxford President. Michael DiSanto who won the toss and chose

Surrey so. Oxford winning the toss, choosing Surrey. You see the two

presidents there. It has been quite feisty, the build-up to the men's

race. We'll be discussing that in more detail because we have lots of

time. Well I say lots of time, we have 35 minutes, half an hour. They

will be out in the water shortly but the presentation is about to take

place for the women's Boat Race. And as I have been talking about the

crowds here, the huge support, I think the women's Boat Race has

added to the occasion, the interest, the stories that are written as well

and also to the understanding that these are full-time students.

You know they work all day long and they train for hours every day as

well and for those that are successful, it is all worth it, for

those that aren't, it is pretty painful. Here's Jason.

Ladies and gentlemen, one of the great sporting events of the great

British sporting calendar, ladies and gentlemen, will you please

welcome your presentation party, the Cancer Research UK 2017 Boat Races,

this is the 7 #27bd women's Boat Race. Would you please give a very

warm welcome to Mitchell Harris, Chief Executive officer, BNY

Investment management and Andrew Hodge who'll present the troey.

First, ladies and gentlemen, the losing crew, Oxford University

Women's Boat Club. Would you please welcome, Harriet Austin, the

captain, in the absent of the injured president, Isabell von Loga.

Please also give a very warm welcome to Alice, Flo Pickles, Rebecca Te

Water Naude, Rebecca Esselstein, Chloe Laverack. Jenna Hebb Earth.

Emily Cameron, cox, Eleanor Shearer and the coach for Oxford Ali

Williams. Eight nation represent. Great Britain, Ireland, United

States of America, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand

and France. Commiserations to Oxford. But, ladies and gentlemen,

on a fine sunny day here, such contrasting difference to last year,

the winners of the 2017 women's Boat Race, Cambridge University Women's

Boat Club, led by Imogen Grant. Claire Lambe. Put your hands

together for Anna Dawson. For Holly Hill. Alice White. Miriam Goudet.

Melissa Wilson, the ox, Matthew Holland. -- the cox Matthew Holland.

And head coach Rob Baker. Here comes Rob. And what a story, after last

year, the heartache, she then contracted pneumonia and here she

is, about to lift the trophy, Cambridge University women's Boat

Race President, Ashton Brown, ladies and gentlemen.

And before the drink starts flowing, Ashton, do you want to take this

moment to say thank you to the crew and thank you to the team and all

the people who played such a massive role in bringing you here today.

That thank you to everyone. This crew is amazing but this year we

have had an amazing team and such great support from everyone. We

couldn't have done it without everyone who turned up for trial

this fall and all our supporters and friends and family. A giant team

effort. I'm so privileged to lead this group. Your social media

accounts have been saying how much you have been looking forward to

this. Take it inside the camp the night before, what was it like? How

confident were you We didn't want to be overconfident but all year we had

a lot of laughs together. We were telling bad jokes, Rob cooked us a

great dinner and we had a great time. It was a lot of fun Rob, how

are you feeling? Pretty good. We have got an amazing - we have seen

our second crew win. These guys are absolutely amazing, we knew how fast

we were, it was about executing today. They were ruthless in the way

they executed which is what we've been training for all year. Let the

celebrations begin, Cambridge University, ladies and gentlemen.

Coming up next, can our novice rowers learn from their Olympic

team-mates? Jam thing has nothing on this. This will be the toughest

competition of my life -- dancing has nothing on this. Cambridge's

Lance Caddell is hoping again to work his magic spell. I'm very

competitive. Losing is not an option.

And in about 25 minutes, it's time for the 163rd Boat Race.

And the man who will be taking each other on have been lifting their

boats to the water. The Oxford crew, including William Warr, one of their

five returning Blues, but when he last rowed in the Boat Race, it was

for Cambridge in 2015. He has switched sides, only the third man

ever to do so. So Oxford will get out there and do their warm-up

routine. Cambridge are being led out by their cox. And Ben Ruble, an

experienced bow. He is rowing in his third Boat Race. He has lost once

and won it once. Their race will be an hour before high tide, so it is

due off at 5.38, just as that tide becomes a flood tide. That will

speed everything up. They are facing for the quarter miles, which seems a

tough challenge until you realise that some people take on 3000 miles

in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge. It is the most

extraordinary thing and shortly, I will be talking to the two man who

won it. The latitude 35 team and their

American team-mates battled tropical storms and sweltering heat to make

the crossing in 35 days, 14 hours and three minutes, securing first

place and beating the previous world record by two days. The course runs

from the Canary Islands to Antigua. Half of the team join me now. How

did you get together? I raced against Jason, our skipper, two

years ago. I won them and Jason was desperate to win the race, so he

approached me a year ago and said, let's put a winning team together.

So you are the Ben Ainslie of Atlantic rowing, call you up and you

win? The Americans always need a Brit to win, put it that way! Alex,

what are the challenge is when you are rowing for that many days

consecutively and sleeping and eating on the boat? What sort of

things mentally do you go through? Generally, we try and break the

entire thing into smaller chunks. Mentally, you can't take on 3000

miles as an entire race. So you have sleep deprivation and you eat

different foods, rowing for two hours at any one time. We broke the

raced down into four hour chunks. Looking at your boat, I struggled to

work out where on earth you have got room to sleep. We designed the boat

so that you have just enough room to fit four big guys in there.

Normally, you only have one person sleeping in each cabin, but

occasionally if you have a storm, you have to clamber up into one

cabin at the front and one cabin at the back. It is a bit horrible. It

is much nicer to be rowing, believe it or not. But are you going to be

doing this again? Has this become your thing? Alexander I have got a

record on the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic. The obvious thing is to

try and do the Pacific. How many miles back? Over 9000 miles, a

monstrous want to try and do. There is something wrong with you, but you

are very good at what you do. Do you ever fancied doing the Boat Race? Or

would it be too easy? I have never been on a traditional rowing boat. I

used to row for Manchester university. But I am sticking to the

oceans for now. I wish you well with all the challenges ahead of you.

That crowd down there are now anticipating the Boat Race. It is

not far away, and those men are experienced rowers. Many of them

have been in the race before. But for our celebrities, it was an

all-new experience. We have seen them in training and this is a

mixture of presenters and sports people. There are some former

Olympians and Boat Race rowers, but it is a real mishmash of the great,

the good and the not sporty at all. Captain that coached by Sir Steve

Redgrave up against James Cracknell, this was what happened on race day.

Dancing has nothing on this. This will be the toughest competition of

my life. I have rowed in a couple of Olympic Games, but it was all

preparing she for today. I have not rowed on the stretch of water for 15

years. I feel an immense sense of pressure. I am feeling excited, but

slightly terrified. It is physically and mentally demanding. It is also

painful in the backside area. I am going to do a lot of whooping and

hollering. I have been told to give it 95%. When I started this process,

I was a terrible row, and I have worked my way up to pretty bad. It

has broken me physically and psychologically, but I am going to

give everything. Come race day, there is a significant blow for the

purple team, with Steve Redgrave unable to attend. And it gets worse.

Team Cracknell win the pass and get their choice of station for the

better racing line. Middlesex. Plenty of changes in seating

positions for both teams, a couple of changes in personnel. Harry Judd

has been ruled out with a back injury for the purples.

Tense final moments on the start. And the pinks have gone early. But

the starter says that is fine. Cheating, some might call it, but

they have a lead of almost a length. A study in concentration, Mark

Watson. The purples have fought their way back into this. Nothing

between these two crews, and coming close together as well, blades in

danger of clashing. Choppy waters of the Thames, Adlington now in

trouble. That has given the purples an opportunity to move out to more

than a length clear. And Michelle Ackerley, the latest to catch a

crab. The pinks take their chance to come back. Almost side-by-side

again, the two crews. Mark Watson is thumped by the chest and the pinks

take advantage. Closing in on the finish, the final few strokes. So

little between these two crews. Sophie Raworth is hit. Has the

chance gone for the pinks? The pinks are coming back, the purples trying

to hold on. So close. To the finish line! And it is a victory for purple

crew for Steve Redgrave's boat. The purples smile and celebrate, Mark

Watson in a world of pain, but he played his part. The purple crew has

the official margin of victory in the 2017 Celebrity Boat Race. The

winner of the inaugural Celebrity Boat Race is Team Redgrave. Whatever

you did, Mark Watson, you did it right. I slid under my feet, but

that was tactics. I may have seen that. One, two, three!

finish to that race. I will always remember where I was. Mark, you are

the only winner on this team. I feel like we are lucky to have you still

with us. Me being on the winning side was never in doubt. It was the

toss of a coin as to whether I would win or be decapitated by the oar. I

thought I was going out of the boat. If anything, it was more painful

than my face suggested. But when we went over the line, it was

incredible. I loved that bit, but every other aspect was difficult.

James, when you have competed in a Paralympics, how much are you having

to alter your skills to be able to work alongside these guys? It is

completely different. We jumped at the start, as you see in the VT.

Race tactics are the same. Don't go off to hard and enjoy yourself. Is

that what we were meant to do? Didn't you enjoy it? Part of it. It

was good and relaxed. Rebecca, you had a nervous time. I know, I crab

straightaway. Than I was panicking and thinking, I don't want to be the

only one. Denmark had about four and Sophie had one, so it was not just

me. I have a lot of credit for the rowers. So much goes into it. People

were like, you are a swimmer, you will be fine. I thought, maybe if I

fall out! It was amazing to be in this boat full of Olympians. But we

wanted to deliver drama. And I was so distracted by Mark's drama that

that may have been the reason why Team Cracknell when not have worked

it out, but you were stunning. The more we talk about it, the more I

emerge as the trump card. Brilliant tactics by Redgrave to pick me up

and make out that I was not very good. He knows what he's doing. Kit

Watson, is your daddy a good rower? No. I never knew he would be a

famous rower anyway. Believe it or not, there are more highlights that

you can find on the BBC iPlayer. Just look up Celebrity Boat Race.

Harry Judd is also bobbing around behind us on the Thames, doing a

Facebook live during the men's race. You can send any questions to him.

Clare, back to you. And Harry double get the most

fabulous view, travelling down the river -- Harry Judd. Cambridge last

year celebrated their first win in four years. Today could be the first

time back-to-back wins and their captain would dearly love to lead

them to that landmark. I hate losing. I am very

competitive. Losing is not an option. As a group going into the

race, we had every reason to be confident. We commanded the race

from the first stroke and that gives you the confidence to know that if

you continue to do what you are doing, that will be enough. I never

want to win a race as badly as I wanted to win that race. Three years

of Dark Blue and it turns a lighter shade. Overjoyed to realise that

goal you have been working towards for so long. We are the holders. I

guess their approach is trying to take it from us. But for me, it

hasn't changed my approach. It definitely gives us more confidence

in the system, knowing we have been there. We are doing exactly the same

things this year. We have some guys coming back to have won and that

gives us confidence that we are building a crew that is stronger and

faster. We have so many guys from such varied backgrounds, different

rowing programmes, different nationalities. My role is to bring

everybody together and form a tight-knit squad to work towards the

ultimate aim, which is beating Oxford on the 2nd of April. There is

a wide range of personalities. You have guys who are happy to sit there

and just do their thing, and you have guys who are very vocal. We

spend so much time in the minibus, joking around, playing stupid music.

This year, it is apparent that we have a good mix between having a

laugh with each other and then when we put the boat on the water, it is

business time. The message to the team has been that losing is not an

option. We are here to deliver back-to-back victories for Cambridge

for the first time since the late 90s, and this is the squad that can

achieve that. So Lance meeting his crew. Let's

meet the rest of the Cambridge University Blue boat. -- leading his

crew. I'm Hugo Ramambason the Cambridge cox. I steer the line,

motivate the crew. In front of me I have Henry Meek. Im'stroke seat,

setting up the rhythm. This is my Boat Race debut. Behind me is Lance

Tredell. I'm the president and one of only two returning blues. I am

ahead of Patrick Ed Miliband. - Patrick Eble.

I'm joined by Aleksander Malowany. The only Canadian. I'm new to the

Boat Race. With me I've go the Timothy tracy. I'm new to the blue

boat but I want be holding back. In the middle of the boat it is about

strength and power which brings me to the man sitting behind me. James

Letten at 6 '0 I'm the biggest personal in the crew. I switched

career after injury. I would love to row in the nationals. Behind me is

Freddie Davidson. At 18 I am eight youngest member. I'm hoping for

victory. Just in front of Ben Ruble. In bow. A strike today would be the

first back-to-back victory since 1989. As the bow man I will be the

first to cross the line. Tom James joins us now. Is it fair to say,

Tom, that the rivalry between Cambridge and Oxford this year has

felt especially intense? I think obviously every year, you know, it's

-- given the history, given that it is a gladiatorial battle that comes

around auns a year and the amount of time they train it is always tense.

This year it is history and given there is history between one

individual swapping sides, there's definitely history between the

individuals and when you are rowing in the race for most it is unwith of

the biggest things we will ever get to be a part of. And for most of us,

it is the one of the biggest things we will be involved at. In the

weigh-in it turned into the sort of thing you might expect at a boxes

fight. Because the two strokes, here, Vassilis Ragoussis and Henry

Meek held each other's hand and engaged in a prolonged stare-off. I

don't know why or what it achieved but I guess it adds, gives us

something to talk about. Absolutely. Weigh-in is a lot of fun, you are

sizing them up. The funny thing s you are targeting these guys for

seven months but you actually very rarely see them up close

face-to-face like that. So there is a lot of kind of primal energy and

animosity going on but you need to channel it in the right way when you

get out on the water. Cambridge have the height and weight advantage as

well, mainly due to one man, now Hugo Ramambason, the cox, he is

fairly tall for a cox at 5'9" but nothing compared to James Letten,

who is at 6'10" as he said in the piece, is the tallest man ever in a

bet race. Does that mean, George, you have to make any adjustments to

the boat itself? Yes, when you are over about 6'5", often you probably

can't quite squeeze into a regular rowing boat in a conventional way.

They may or may not have had to tweak things in their shell. We're

used to having big lads in the came brick set-up. I think they would've

managed it fine. Jim is the strongest man Cambridge have had on

the team I'm very excited to see what he can do. It'll be a close

race, featuring in the Oxford crew, brothers, the first brothers since

the Facebook twins a couple of years ago, Jamie and Ollie Cook. I'm

relieved that when we joined them for a very special family party,

mine is the only family that celebrates dog birthdays Sunday voes

a interest digs. But with the Boat Race, it is difficult to have to fit

it in with the training sessions. Mum loves cooking, we love eating

her food. Today is the fourther birthday. As a family we are close

but when ol lane I because there is only two -- between Ollie and I,

because there is only two years, we have had a competitiveness and that

competitive edge we'll take into the Boat Race. I started rowing just

around the corner and for me, I think when I first went out, it was

all about sort of having fun. And but then very quickly it started to

change to wanting to win and wanting to sort of better mayself. We never

actually shall I don't I this we've competed against each other which

has been a massive relief for me. OK, so we have a height war here,

where people generally come through the kitchen and had some food and

been measured up. We have Paul Bennett, ex-Blues rower, now an

Olympic gold medallist. And Andrew Triggs-Hodge, three-time Olympic

gold medallist. Are you going to leave some for your dad? No. I was

there to watch Jamie's race last year. It's been great because Jamie

has been able to sort of signpost all the various things that come up

with preparing for the Boat Race and all the training and the trials. It

has been roles reversed. Being the bigger brother, Jamie was the one

who had done this, the old hand. He has been through the mill a couple

of times, he has kind of been showing me the ropes a bit. I think

as parent you stand there thinking each race is like a new race, it is

like the first race, your heart is in your mouth. Yes. We know one mum

who faints each time she watches her son race Really? A different mum? It

is one of the best and worst feelings in my life I have felt was

winning and losing the Boat Race. It took me a long time to get over the

fact that I actually did lose it last year. And I was sort of really

done with the sport, with rowing. In the Boat Race, you know, if you lose

it is absolutely gutting. Banished from the house. Don't come in!

Having Ollie here has added that competitive element which has been

fantastic for me to push myself on. Really good luck for the Boat Race.

Thanks. And the Cook family are here in force to offer their support.

Jamie is rowing at seven and Ollie at three. Let's meet the full Oxford

crew. I'm Sam Collier, the Oxford cox I'm

right at the back. It's my job to give orders to the crew, all eyes

are on me, in front of me is... Vassilis Ragoussis. I'm the stroke

seat. The rest of the guys follow my timing. It's my debut. Behind me

is... Jamie Cook. Seven seat. It is my third time in the Oxford blue

wrote boat this year I get to row with my brother, Ollie. I'm ahead

of... Michael DiSanto this year's president and six seat. I

represented the United States at Rio in the Olympics and am looking for

my third Boat Race win. I sit in front of... Olivier Siegelaar I won

an Olympic medal in Rio for Holland. This is my first Boat Race I'm

sitting in front of... Joshua Bugajski, part of the powerhouse. I

rowed as part of last year's defeated boat. This year I'm going

to win. Behind me is... Ollie Cook. My dad taught May to row when I was

12. I wanted the compete in the Boat Race my younger brother sits at

seven. I'm a new addition to this year's engine room. Sitting behind

me is... Matt O'Leary at two. I'm a newcomer behind me is... William

Warr in the bow seat I balance and power as hard as I can. In 2016 I

raced with Cambridge, but this year with Oxford, I hope to cross the

line first. William Warr only the third man to switch sides. This is

what he had to say about it. It hasn't been this easy. Guys I was

close with and I would speak to every week, who I rowed with at

Cambridge, I barely speak to them any more. Some guys said - yeah,

that makes sense. Other guys didn't respect the decision at all and said

they really hope I lose for Oxford and they completely disagree with

the decision. And it is nearly racetime. So all the talking and

staring can stop. The race about to begin. Let's get the through of

Constantine and George, who wins it? I'm always going to be true to

Oxford. I think they looked strong in training yesterday. They have the

form going in and personnel. But it could be a humdinger. George? I

think it Stan is right. It is going to be a close race. Cambridge look

to me like the sharper crew but Oxford's strength is difficult to

avoid. I think if Cambridge are to win it'll go down to the wire. I

certainly hope they do. Let's see what happens. I think we are both

hoping for a good race. It will. It should be a competitive strong race.

Over to our commentary team. Time for the 163rd Cancer Research

UK Boat Race. COMMENTATOR: So they wait and I

wonder if they saw the start of the women's race and what happened

there? The dreadful start for Oxford but here they sit, Putney Bridge

looming over them. Cries from the bank. There is a helicopter above

them. It is an oppressive atmosphere. The skies have darkened.

The temperature have dropped a bit. They know these two crews, in 17 or

18 minutes, it might be quicker today, but those minutes, it is the

culmination of all the days and months of training and for some

years of ambition, and the next 17 minutes or so will be how the story

ends. Now you know how nerve wrecking it can be as an oarsman,

Tom, these moments? You can't train for this. You have to deal with it

in the day. You do all the training, it has to come out naturally you

have a two or three minute window, waiting, what do you think about? We

have seen a bit of drift wood. Not a stray duck, not ordnance from the

Second World War. They are waiting, and the umpire, Matthew Pinsent

there he is. Get ready. He rowed in this three

times. Twice a winner, once a loser. And there is Hugo Ramambason with

his hand up, showing he is not happy yet. and Vassilis Ragoussis had that

stare-off with his opposite number. Matthew Pinsent waits. The incoming

tide is as strong as it gets. The boats will be sprawling around a bit

A strong current. They are just about ready. You can see the arm of

Sam Collier is up for Oxford. Again that first stroke, so, so important.

Happy in the Cambridge boat, no, Ramambason's arm goes up. This is

what happens. You wait for the moment when both coxes are happy.

Go. Down goes the red flag away they go in the 163rd Boat Race. Short,

quick strokes which take them out before they settle into a longer,

steadier rhythm. But now, approaching 40 strokes a minute. And

the adrenaline is released and so, so important, even in a 4.2 mile

race, important to get a good picture and perhaps Surrey, with a

slight edge Cleaner strokes off the start. Cambridge slightly longer off

the start, slower to get going, the important thing for Cambridge is not

to panic, overrace. But to come down into rhythm. They are the slightly

lighter crew Oxford but combradge seem to have nibbled into that. The

initial advantage in terms of bends in this river is for Cambridge.

About a quarter of a length around Craven Cottage but no a quarter of a

length perhaps to Oxford at the moment. It looks to me like the

combradge crew went off pointed slightly wide out towards the right.

-- Cambridge crew. And had to do a wiggle to come back in. Hugo

Ramambason in that crew did a great job. He has been the blue boat cox

for three years but he apparently was hungier on it, got into that

seat, he got back on track. We know that Cambridge crew contains great

power in the middle of the boat but the Oxford boat has great power in

terms of Olivier Siegelaar the Olympian. And Michael DiSanto

finished fourth in that race in Rio. It is a big lead early on for

Oxford. I think it is. It is what we expected. Oxford were favourites

coming into this. We have seen it time and time again, they are goo

good at getting out off the start. We knew that. Cambridge have had a

good season, the last couple of weeks they have been on top form and

looking good. This is what we expected, a slightly less

experienced crew. They come into advantage now and this is where they

immediate to settle into a strong pattern and not being overwhelmed by

being a length down. The bow seat needs to remind them of that, the

distance, they are still there. Cambridge have the advantage of

about a quarter to a third of a length on the bend. It'll be

important for them to capitalise on that and equally important for

Oxford that if Cambridge gain a couple of seats they don't panic.

Out on the water there is Wayne. What do you make to the start An

impressive start for Oxford. They went like a skalded cat out of the

gates. They almost had a shoft breaking through before the first

turn in Cambridge's favour. They couldn't quite do that, now Matthew

Pinsent is making sure the crews are staying apart and making sure

Cambridge have a chance it take their corner. This is where

Cambridge needs to get into a rhythm and take their way back. They have a

lot of work to do around the outside of the next bend.

We can see how close the blades are coming, with the danger of clashing.

Cambridge have put a push in and they are eating away into the Oxford

lead. They have done a great job of capitalising on the bend, both coxes

doing a lovely job of keeping their crews close, but not too close. I

have zero Italy go alongside me, former Oxford cox -- Zoe de Toledo.

We are waiting for the angle to tell us how big the Oxford lead is, but

it looks no more than a quarter of a length. Cambridge have done well.

Oxford's initial advantage is just giving them the chance to look

solid. You can see they look strong. For Cambridge, the next couple of

minutes are imperative. They need to keep working. As they go past the

band 's wetland centre, you can see how close the blades are coming

together once more. They are fighting for the narrow channel of

water where the tide rushes in. There is a real danger of the blades

clashing. There was a bit of touch there and Oxford came off better.

But Cambridge are still hanging in. A good view of the tandem rigging in

the setup. You can hear Matthew Pinsent just warning Oxford to move

back into their waters. Oxford have to have a light touch on the rudder.

Sam is calling for them to stay loose, stay relaxed in that Oxford

boat. A little clash. Freddie Davidson's blade caught that of

Jamie Cook's in the Oxford boat. This is what happens, they are

fighting for that narrow channel of water which provides the quickest

path. This is getting slightly dangerous for Cambridge. These next

couple of minutes, it is imperative for Cambridge to stay in touch.

Hugo, you have got to move, said Matthew Pinsent. Suddenly, Cambridge

are a length down, Wayne Pommen. Yes, they missed a stroke. And that,

combined with the steering, has really cost Cambridge. Now they are

not in a good position. Oxford has the inside of this bend for the next

six or seven minutes. So Cambridge need to produce something special

right now if they are to stay in this race. The Cambridge cox was

doing what he thought was best to keep his crew in the race, but it

might have cost them as they had to steer out of it as they were being

warned by the umpire, Matthew Pinsent. They are coming up to

Hammersmith Bridge. This is where you will see Oxford term. Cambridge

will have to keep pushing. This is turning into a short race for

Cambridge. They have to treat the next couple of minutes as if they

are coming up to the end of the race. It will have to be a huge

effort from Cambridge now, because Oxford are beginning to stretch out

under Hammersmith Bridge. Between 80% and 85% of the time, the boat

which leads at Hammersmith Bridge goes on to win. Now Oxford will have

that big bend around the South Bank and will have that advantage, so the

next couple of minutes for Cambridge will have to be a huge effort to

hang in there and give themselves a chance in the second half of the

race. Cambridge are not letting go of this. If I was Oxford, I would

want to be moving a bit more here with this advantage. Hopefully, we

will see that start to happen for them as this bend continues.

Cambridge are doing a fantastic job. If they can keep this overlap, it

will be to their advantage. As long as they can still keep in touch.

There is Hugo, the 20-year-old, French British student. He is moving

a lot in his legs. You want to sit nice and still so as not to upset

the boat, but that is what happens in the excitement. A bit of

excitement around the water. Cambridge are trying to hang on, but

Oxford are opening out the length and a half lead and looking strong.

They have experience with the Cook brothers and Sam Collier urging them

on. We just saw Oxford put in a big push. At this point, they want to

make it count. This is a really important moment for Oxford to keep

moving away. Cambridge are still in touch. Back down to Wayne Pommen, up

on the river. It looks like Oxford might have done what they needed to

do, which is push hard around Hammersmith, where you have got the

bend, and get yourself at least a quarter length or half length and

then you control the rest of the race. Cambridge have to produce

something really quickly now to force Oxford back onto the side of

the river if they want to stay in this race. Otherwise, Oxford can go

wherever they like when the river turns back around the next bend.

That is a good view of it. The bend will start to move to the right-hand

side a while. We are still with the Surrey bend. If Oxford get that

clear water ahead of Cambridge, they can choose their line, which they

can't at the moment. Matthew Pinsent is in the umpire's launch, keeping

control. The blades are close, but Cambridge are clear water behind at

the moment. I don't think this is over yet. Cambridge are hanging in

there and they might have taken back a couple of feet in the last ten

strokes. In the Oxford boat, they have got to stay relaxed and make

sure they use this advantage. Zoe is right. If Cambridge can keep hold

for the next minute, it will start to come round to their advantage.

Whichever crew is moving has the advantage. They have been level for

the last few minutes and the advantage has come from Oxford's

bend as opposed to their boat speed. They will soon come to the crossing

and then favour the north bank of the river and under Barnes Bridge.

All of the bend after that will favour... Well, Oxford can choose

their line, of course. This is a huge moment for Cambridge. If they

can hang on, perhaps Oxford will start to become demoralised. They

have now done what is the umpire's worst nightmare, which is that they

have crossed stations. The crews are not allowed to roam on the wrong

station. Cambridge are coming back fast and they have to get back onto

the right stations. Yes, if they were to get back into contact with

the Oxford boat, they can't do that on that side because Cambridge

started on Middlesex. Oxford started on Surrey. That gap is not moving.

Not yet. Cambridge have been on the back foot for the last ten minutes.

They have had a really tough race and they are doing well to stay in

touch. Oxford still have composure. If Cambridge can just keep on for

the next 30 seconds, then this last bend of Oxford will inch out and

they will get into their last bend which gives them an advantage. There

was just a mis-struck back near Hammersmith which cost Cambridge and

they fell back at that point and it has remained like that since then.

But Cambridge are still hanging on and hoping. Let's go back to Wayne

Pommen. These crews are making Matthew Pinsent work hard.

Cambridge, a minute ago, put in a huge push to try and get back into

this race. You could see the additional effort they were putting

down. They took a few feet back from Oxford. But after that, Oxford were

able to withstand it and now they are back in control. I'm not sure

how much came which have left to throw at them. It looks like Oxford

are putting their puddles under the centre of the oar. Some of the

supporters in the Cambridge launch were waving their arms. I think they

thought Oxford were encroaching a bit too much on Cambridge's water,

but it looks as if Oxford have withstood that push from Cambridge.

Yes, we did see the giant arm outstretched by Matthew Pinsent with

the white flag, telling Oxford to get back in their own water. Just

over a mile to go from here. Perhaps that gap is now beginning to look

more decisive. Very few boats come from behind at Barnes Bridge, which

you can see in the distance. That is a significant lead for Oxford.

Cambridge have been rowing in the Oxford wash for a long time now, a

horrible way to row. It is bumpy. Oxford have nice, clear water on the

other hand. They have got Cambridge and our sites and they can control

what they are doing. Very solid. Cambridge are just a little bit

tired. Past the houses of Barnes and the crowds which have come out in

their hundreds of thousands today. There is the Oxford boat.

Cambridge are hanging on, but this is too much to try and get back

beyond Barnes Bridge. Umpire Matthew Pinsent is still not happy that

Oxford have enough of a lead to be in Cambridge's water. He has warned

them quite a few times. You can still hear the coxes asking.

Cambridge are hanging in there. It would be a miracle comeback from

here, but Cambridge seem to be getting closer once again.

They are not going away. It is just that the river is going to run out.

Steinegger this is Cambridge's bend now. So for Oxford again, really

important to stay relaxed and keep doing what they are doing, trust and

believe in their rhythm. Cambridge have nothing to lose now. Two and a

half minutes of racing left. This is where they have to put everything

in. They have done incredibly up to this point, rowing in Oxford's wash,

which is not comfortable. Down to when Toulouse Wayne wants more. It

has been interesting to watch. Oxford had the better start and they

capitalised around the Surrey bend, but in the past ten minutes, the

crews have been going at almost the same speed, so it has been a great

race. That gap is not closing for Cambridge, Oxford maintaining their

lead. Their bodies will be urging them to stop, but their minds are

driving them on. Matthew Pinsent is still not happy. He is saying they

have to move back to their side. It is a good lead, but not yet

decisive. There has not yet been a point where Oxford feel like they

have really broken away from Cambridge.

It has been very equal speed. Undoubtedly, Cambridge have kept the

pressure on right through this. As we saw in the women's race, they are

not letting it go until the finish line. Sam Collier, the cox, asking

for more. But there will be no back-to-back wins for Cambridge on

this day. Huge flotilla behind the two crews, who are still close

together. It goes back to that little bit around Hammersmith

Bridge. Perhaps the brighter start for Oxford, but Oxford, in the 163rd

Boat Race, will reclaim the Thames. They are champions once more.

Cambridge were so close, but in the Boat Race, that is so far away

still. Oxford have their celebrations. That was a very good

race. All credit to Oxford, very clinical race. They got off the

start cleanly. They got into their rhythm. Even when they came under

pressure, they were able to hold onto the lead. Cambridge, what 1030.

Even though they were in that horrible wash for such a long time,

they showed tenacity. And the contract again -- the contrast

again, because they gave so much in training. Sacrifice is an

exaggerated word, but they do. They get up in the morning and have long

winter sessions. And then it just doesn't happen on the day. This was

an ambitious move. Was that Cook heading towards Cook? That was

Jamie, no doubt heading back to embrace his brother. Too many cooks

spoil the boat. What a sight. Remember the winkle Voss twins, they

were the last brothers, the twins who lost for Oxford. But Damian

Ollie Cook are winners as brothers -- Jamie and Ollie Cook. And the

sad, muted cheers from Cambridge. Ble. Don't fall in now. But again,

when you win, it doesn't matter. Siegelaar there, just getting his

breath back. When you have given so much energy and you are broken, it

doesn't seem to matter when you have won. There is always the first

couple of minutes after racing is over and it is horrible. Oxford have

shown their dominance. They have a big engine room and they have

allowed the to work hard in the middle of the race. Cambridge,

losing the race is horrible but they had a fantastic, a fantastic

evident. I don't think they probably got off the start as well as they

wanted and had to really work back in the race to deep in touch but a

horrible race to have to race, just so close, never quite getting the

chance when you are back on level. For the guys in the stern they've

never seen the Oxford boat. So, it is a really hard row. All credit to

them for keeping the margin to what it was by the end. # Well Vassilis

Ragoussis has och sowsfully coughed up half his lung and he is

recovering now and Oxford will head into the boat club where

celebrations will continue. In the reserve races, Oxford beating

Cambridge and in the women's, I think it was by a good distance as

well. And Blondie, Cambridge, won in the women's. Over the day it is

even. A win for the Cambridge women, a win for the Oxford men and the

reserve races but there is Sean Bowden who has seen so much success

in the Boat Race. A successful coach as well in the 90s, he had a spell

with Cambridge, working there under Robin Williams and now with Oxford

what success he has had. And for Cambridge, they have found shore

already and Oxford now, weary but winners, they will head in a very