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Initials AA/V-TELE/MR/OS


SPORT: BOAT RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: CAMBRIDGE, THE FAVOURITES, BEAT OXFORD BY THREE AND A HALF LENGTHS FOR THEIR FIRST WIN IN FOUR YEARS IN THE ANNUAL UNIVERSITIES BOAT RACE ON THE RIVER THAMES TODAY (SATURDAY).

BLUSTERY COLD WEATHER DAMPENED DOWN THE USUAL CARNIVAL MOOD OF THE CROWDS LINING THE TOW-PATH TO WATCH THE RACE OVER FOUR MILES AND 374 YARDS OF THE THAMES BETWEEN PUTNEY AND MORTLAKE. THE THAMES IS TIDAL AT THIS POINT AND THE CREWS RACE WITH THE TIDE. CAMBRIDGE, IN LIGHT BLUE, WON THE TOSS AND CHOSE THE SURREY SIDE OF THE RIVER. ONCE ONE SIDE IS SUFFICIENTLY FAR AHEAD IT MAY MOVE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE TIDE.

DURING THE EARLY STAGES THE RACE LOOKED LIKE BEING ONE OF THE CLOSEST IN RECENT YEARS WITH OXFORD, NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF A LENGTH DOWN AFTER THE START, PULLING BACK TO INCH AHEAD AFTER THE FIRST MILE.

CAMBRIDGE CAME BACK TO LEAD BY A LENGTH AT CHISWICK STEPS AND WERE ABLE TO MOVE COMFORTABLY AHEAD IN THE CALMER WATER AT DUKE'S MEADOW. CAMBRIDGE WON IN THE FAST TIME OF 18 MINUTES 22 SECONDS.

IN THE SERIES, CAMBRIDGE HAVE NOW WON 62 RACES COMPARED TO OXFORD'S 51. THERE WAS ONE DEAD-HEAT -- IN 1877.