Oxford must learn from Cambridge's rebuilding lesson

Oxford's director of coaching, says that both crews have shown they can live with the very best

Oxford came close to making the break back against the Light Blues' winning streak, but Cambridge's restored confidence and irresistible rhythm were just enough to deny them for the fourth time in a row.

Oxford were a fine crew, with recent victories over many of Britain's Atlanta-bound national team men to their credit, and they battled bravely behind their young stroke, Adam Frost. But the inside of the big Hammersmith bend gave Cambridge the edge that they needed to break clear and record the second-quickest time in the history of the event.

Now, after 20 years in the driving seat, the Dark Blues are in the unfamiliar position of regular underdogs. They began the grim task last year of rebuilding morale and developing a new dynamic system following the collapse of confidence caused by two sudden defeats, which must permeate rowing throughout the university if it is to succeed. But it is a long process.

It took Cambridge seven years of patient work initiated under the late Mark Lees, their first professional coach, to establish a new organisation and rowing style which he brought with him from his coaching with the successful Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association. His successors, John Wilson, Sean Bowden and now Robin Williams, with the charismatic input of the New Zealander Harry Mahon, further nurtured their revival until in 1993 they burst free from a favoured Oxford crew anchored by two Olympic champions to take the Beefeater Gin Trophy.

That triumph came after an 18-year slump in the shadow of their rivals, during which they had scored one solitary victory.

Now there is a disciplined rowing style at Cambridge recogniseable in their women's crews, their lightweights, their colleges, as well as their senior squad crews, which underpins all their racing.

However, this dramatic reversal of fortunes was also fired by high-level motivation and by the recruitment of star performers to the Light Blue cause. Olympic class athletes, some with gold medal pedigrees, from Germany, New Zealand, Croatia and America, ably matched with a combination of successful British internationals, inspired fine home-grown talent and provided the initial impulse. Cambridge began producing world beating crews.

Controversially, some of these new star players were underwritten by an annual pounds 10,000 bursary raised by old Cambridge Blues, which reflects the ever increasing pressure on the clubs to win. Oxford objected to this apparent escalation towards funded athletes while recognising that there may be only a fine line between boat club bursaries and finance secured from local councils, student grants or loans, prospective employers or doting parents. It is, though, a problem that the Boat Race must solve now if the event is to stay true to its amateur ethos.

However, the quality of the two crews continues to reflect the best in the world, despite parts of the media dismissing this as a second-class event. The reality is very different. Apart from their victories over London University, second in the Head of the River race last week, Oxford took on an eight containing six of the British Olympic squad and won by a length. Last year four of Cambridge's crew defeated Britain's silver medal world championship four, containing the Olympic gold medallists Greg and Jonny Searle. Of the 20 rowers competing in Atlanta in July nine are Boat Race spawned.