Boat Race 2016 as it happened: Cambridge claim victory in men's race, Oxford win women's

Follow all the latest from along the River Thames

‎The Boat Race Trophy on the presentation stand (Getty Images)

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the 2016 Cancer Research UK Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge.

This year, in the 162nd edition of main men's race, Oxford's Dark Blues will be hoping to build on three successive victories and close in on the two-point all-time lead held by Cambridge's Light Blues.

Before that, we begin with the main women's race, which is followed by the women's and men's reserve contests.

Today's races

15:10 The Cancer Research UK Women's Boat Race

• Oxford beat Cambridge: 21 minutes 49 seconds, 24 lengths ahead

15:25 Osiris-Blondie Race (Women’s Reserve)

• Cambridge beat Oxford

15:40 Isis-Goldie Race (Men’s Reserve)

• Oxford beat Cambridge

16:10 The Cancer Research UK Boat Race

• Cambridge bt Oxford

For the first time in the history of the event, the men's, women's and both reserves' races will all be held on the Tideway on the same day.

Follow all the latest from along the River Thames with the live blog below...

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All-time score

Cambridge 81 Oxford 79

Crews

Oxford

Bow George McKirdy
2 James White
3 Morgan Gerlak (P)
4 Joshua Bugajski
5 Leo Carrington
6 Jørgen Tveit
7 Jamie Cook
Stroke Nik Hazell
Cox Sam Collier

Cambridge

Bow Felix Newman
2 Ali Abbasi
3 Charles Fisher
4 Clemens Auersperg
5 Luke Juckett
6 Henry Hoffstot (P)
7 Ben Ruble
Stoke Lance Tredell
Cox Ian Middleton

[27 March 2016 14:55 · Mark Critchley]

Could we see a sinking?That's the opinion on Wayne Pomme, a former Cambridge president. We've had six sinkings, the most recent being Cambridge's in 1978.Oxford's second sinking, in 1925, was recorded for posterity. Check it out, thanks to the British Film Institute. 

BFI

@BFI

That sinking feeling! Oxford’s boat goes underwater during the 1925 boat race https://t.co/xOHgoaHAeL#BritainOnFilmhttps://t.co/imQtQ2LZ4G

11:34 AM - 27 Mar 2016

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[27 March 2016 15:00 · Mark Critchley]

Ten minutes to go until the Cancer Research UK Women's Boat Race...

Maddy Badcott is the president of OUWBC for the 2016 race. Her counterpart, Hannah Roberts, rowed in Blondie (Cambridge's women's reserve boat) in 2014 and 2015.

The CUWBC crew features three returning Light Blues: Daphne Martschenko, Ashton Brown and cox Rosemary Ostfeld.

Oxford also see three participants with Boat Race experience return: former Boat Club president Anastasia Chitty, Maddy Badcott and Lauren Kedar.

[27 March 2016 15:49 · Mark Critchley]

In between races, it's perhaps a good time to note just how badly the presence of 'comedian' Seann Walsh is being received.He's alongside the BBC's Helen Skelton covering 'the social side' of the Boat Race, and it's going down a real treat...

 

Carolyn Hitt

@carolyn_hitt

"Do the women have a cox?" says fnaar fnaar comic. Not the coverage of female sport you'd hope for on @bbc#BoatRace2016

3:01 PM - 27 Mar 2016

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Rachel Wallis

@nrachelwallis

Why is Sean Walsh on Boat Race commentary? Jokes about women rowers & coxes? Idiot. They're elite athletes.#BoatRace2016 @EverydaySexism

3:00 PM - 27 Mar 2016

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J Slats

@slater_jonni

@seannwalsh is such a prat. What on earth are @BBCOne doing interviewing him?#BoatRace2016#whataprat

3:46 PM - 27 Mar 2016

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Jonny

@JonnyStreat_

Seann Walsh's presence on the @BBCSport boat race coverage is about as necessary or welcome as the second 'N' on his first-name

3:45 PM - 27 Mar 2016

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[27 March 2016 15:54 · Mark Critchley]

 

The Boat Races

@theboatraces

Congratulations to the victorious Oxford University Women's Boat Club! #BoatRace2016https://t.co/YElkYBrizR

3:53 PM - 27 Mar 2016

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[27 March 2016 15:57 · Mark Critchley]

15:25 Osiris-Blondie Race (Women’s Reserve)

So, it's not covered by the BBC, but the women's reserve race has been won while the main race presentations were being made.

Blondie, the Cambridge women's reserve boat, claimed victory over Osiris.

[27 March 2016 16:04 · Mark Critchley]

15:40 Isis-Goldie Race (Men’s Reserve)

We're enjoying Seann Walsh's musings on BBC One at the moment but on the river, Isis have claimed victory.

Don't worry mates, it's just me making the easiest joke of the day - one our man Walsh has probably been told not to make.

Oxford's men's reserve boat, 'so-called' Isis, has emerged victorious in a close-ran race against Cambridge's Goldie.

[27 March 2016 16:07 · Mark Critchley]

Not long now until the men's main event...

It will be the first time in the history of the race that both boat club presidents are American.

Cambridge's Henry Hoffstot hails from New York while Oxford's Morgan Gerlak was born in Baltimore. 

The Dark Blue crew contains a single rower with Boat Race experience in Jamie Cook, a member of the victorious 2015 crew.

[27 March 2016 16:09 · Mark Critchley]

The two crews in full...

Oxford

Bow George McKirdy2 James White3 Morgan Gerlak (P)          4 Joshua Bugajski5 Leo Carrington 6 Jørgen Tveit      7 Jamie Cook        Stroke Nik Hazell           Cox Sam Collier

Cambridge

Bow Felix Newman2 Ali Abbasi3 Charles Fisher4 Clemens Auersperg5 Luke Juckett6 Henry Hoffstot (P)          7 Ben Ruble          Stoke Lance TredellCox Ian Middleton 

[27 March 2016 16:10 · Mark Critchley]

16:10 The Cancer Research UK Boat Race

A bit of news before we begin, Oxford have been given a false start for arriving late. They will only be disqualified if they are handed another, which is unlikely, but it may unsettle them.

Cambridge won the toss and chose Surrey. 

[27 March 2016 16:13 · Mark Critchley]

16:10 The Cancer Research UK Boat Race

We're away! Oxford get off slightly cleaner but it's a tight start.

There's a noisy, football-esque atmosphere on the banks. What chance things get a little naughty?

Doubt it.