Cancer Research UK Boat Races 2018

The action on the Tideway kicked off with the women's openweight race at 4.31pm. The Light Blues, stroked by Olivia Coffey, went into the race as established favourites with a greater depth of experience in their crew, including three returning Blues, and crossed the finish line seven lengths ahead in 19 minutes and 6 seconds. With a stroke rate that topped 40 per minute during the race, this was a dominant performance.

Next on the programme was the women's reserves race (Blondie v Osiris), which Cambridge won by nine lengths in a time of 19 minutes 45 seconds, having pulled ahead majestically after a strong start from both crews. This marked the third win in a row for Blondie, a feat they have not achieved since 1998.

The men's reserves race (Goldie v Isis) followed, with warnings for both crews to move back to their lines. Goldie finished the race seven seconds ahead, in 18 minutes and 12 seconds to Isis's 18 minutes and 19 seconds, winning the race for the first time since 2010.

In the final race of the day, Cambridge's men's Blues won by three lengths in a time of 17 minutes and 51 seconds, despite the Dark Blues initially gaining a small lead having started from the Middlesex station. Once the crews had settled into their rhythm though, Oxford's slender lead was overhauled before even the long Surrey bend and the Light Blues, stroked by Freddie Davidson, comfortably avenged last year's defeat.

The clean sweep makes a fitting final year for Cambridge's Head Coach Steve Trapmore, who leaves the Light Blues for a role with Team GB Olympic rowing.

Read reports for all the races on the Cancer Research UK Boat Races website.

Henley Boat Races

The Cambridge lightweight crews also won convincing victories the previous Sunday, 18 March, despite the event relocating to Dorney Lake due to adverse river conditions forecast on the Thames.

Cambridge took the Francombe Cup, with the women's lightweights winning by half a length (in 7 minutes 24 seconds) and the men's lightweights by one third of a length (in 6 minutes 26 seconds).

Read more on the Henley Boat Races website.