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 16:15 · Mark Critchley]

16:10 The Cancer Research UK Boat Race

Cambridge respond early to umpire Simon Harris' warning that they're straying close to Oxford's boat. 

They respond by stretching away and have opened up a clean lead.

[27 March 2016 16:17 · Mark Critchley]

16:10 The Cancer Research UK Boat Race

Credit to Sam Collier, Oxford's cox. He has one big voice for a little man but it's not helping his crew close the gap on Cambridge, who have opened up a commanding lead.

"If they want to win this race, it's going to happen in the next two or three minutes", says Matthew Pinsent.

[27 March 2016 16:22 · Mark Critchley]

16:10 The Cancer Research UK Boat Race

The crews are about to enter some very choppy waters. Cambridge's bend is about the expire and Oxford have to push now to save it.

Sam Collier is doing his best to steer his team to victory and those watching at home are enjoying it.

 

emily

@emily_mansell

the oxford cox's voice though he sounds like he's possessed

4:19 PM - 27 Mar 2016

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Mrs Worldwide

@RoseShona

OXFORD 'S COX IS KILLING MEEEE He should consider a career in action movie voiceovers #BoatRace2016

4:21 PM - 27 Mar 2016

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SS. ♔ سماح

@InspiringSpark

Why does the Oxford cox sound likes he's a dying Gollum @OUBCsquad #gdbo #boatrace2016

4:19 PM - 27 Mar 2016

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[27 March 2016 16:25 · Mark Critchley]

16:10 The Cancer Research UK Boat Race

"Cambridge have rode admirably. They've rode cleaner and smoother over that water. Oxford will feel heavier, will feel wetter and it's all adding to their workload," says Matthew Pinsent.

Both crews are heading to the bank to avoid the problems suffered by Cambridge's women's crew earlier. Their male counterparts are having a much better time of it, being about three lengths clear.

[27 March 2016 16:29 · Mark Critchley]

16:10 The Cancer Research UK Boat Race

The streak is over. It all looks lost for the Dark Blues with Cambridge boasting a authoritative lead. 

It'll be a margin of three, maybe four lengths.

[27 March 2016 16:30 · Mark Critchley]

16:10 The Cancer Research UK Boat Race

Cambridge are approaching the Stag Brewery and really pushing it, they want a big margin.

[27 March 2016 16:30 · Mark Critchley]

16:10 The Cancer Research UK Boat Race

CAMBRIDGE WIN THE MEN'S BOAT RACE

It wasn't a classic, nor a race of decisive moments and high drama, but Cambridge will be delighted that they have ended their rivals' streak of wins with a commanding victory.They took the lead early on and barely looked back from there, gradually widening the gap between themselves and their opponents.

[27 March 2016 16:38 · Mark Critchley]

"We wanted it more today, the guys did a great job, Steve did a great job," says president Henry Hoffstot.

"It was tough conditions. We knew what it would be like, a tough second half and we needed to set it up in the first half, the guys were brilliant," says Ian Middleton, Cambridge's cox.

[27 March 2016 16:39 · Mark Critchley]

 

The Boat Races

@theboatraces

A special moment for the Light Blues. https://t.co/IBI6y0oCwS

4:35 PM - 27 Mar 2016

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[27 March 2016 16:40 · Mark Critchley]

"It turned under Hammersmith. They did a great job getting ahead on the Surrey bend and credit to them, they won the race," says Morgan Gerlak.He insists Oxford will be determined to move on from this and that, with the best athletes and the best coaches in the world, they'll be back next year.