Cambridge’s men and women claim Boat Race double over Oxford

Cambridge’s men and women secured double Boat Race glory over Oxford on a dominant afternoon for the Light Blues.

After the women’s team had claimed their sixth successive victory earlier in the day, Cambridge’s men took the honours later on to complete the double over their rivals in the traditional university race.

With no Olympians in this year’s edition it felt like one of the purest men’s races in recent memory as Oxford looked to defend their 2022 title, while Cambridge hoped to make it four wins in the last five.

The eventual winners experienced rudder issues that threatened to delay the beginning of the 168th edition of the men’s race, taking place under blustery conditions on the traditional Thames Tideway course.

Both boats earned early warnings from umpire Tony Reynolds as pre-race bookmakers’ favourites Oxford with the weight advantage, pulled ahead.

While each crew boasted men with previous blue boat experience, only Cambridge featured two 2022 returnees in Luca Ferraro, who made the switch from bow to stroke, and captain Ollie Parish in the seven-seat.

Parish’s coxswain brother Jasper won with the women last year and this time joined his brother in Light Blue boat.

That proved to be a critical swap when Jasper made a risky call near Fulham’s Craven Cottage stadium to pull closer to the bank and river wall, and closer to the bend, hoping to find friendlier waters.

It turned out to be an inspired decision, allowing the Light Blues boat to take a half-length’s lead, and while Oxford would not let their opponents get away, their bow often drawing level with their rivals’ stern but unable to gain considerable ground as Cambridge carried their advantage over the finishing line.

There was cause for concern for