Cambridge University Swim Team defeated Oxford when they went head to head in their annual Varsity match. The competition saw the swimming elite shaved, suited-up and streamlined, trained and tapered for the event. It was one of the closest matches in recent years with the whole contest decided by the final race.

Both teams provide two competitors in 100m individuals of each stroke, 200m and 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley (IM). Four points are awarded for first place, three for second, two for third and one for fourth. The match finishes in a medley and freestyle relay in which each competitor can swim only once, but are worth double points.

Cambridge started strongly, with Catz second year Henny Dillon winning the women’s 200m IM. This was followed by Clare fresher, Dale Waterhouse and last year’s captain, Tom Rootsey, gaining first and second place respectively in the men’s event. Oxford caught up, taking both the women’s and men’s 100m backstroke with Cambridge’s Emily Bottle the only swimmer able to gain significant points, placing second in the women’s event, with Heather Moore coming in third.

Kat de Rome and Chloe Spiby Loh battled it out for first in the women’s 200m freestyle but were beaten at the touch to place second and third. Men’s captain, Andy Corley suffered the same fate in the men’s event placing third behind two Oxford swimmers, including their captain, Tom Booth. Henny Dillon and Emily Darley dominated the 100m butterfly occupying the top two positions in the women’s event with Aussie-grad, Joel Carpenter coming second in the men’s event followed by Downing medic Jack Long in third.

After the first half of the gala, Cambridge led Oxford by one point. In the second half, the teams continued in much the same way, placing either first and fourth, or second and third in a number of events, causing the points to cancel out. Notable swims include women’s captain, Caroline Gordon, and Jesus second year, Tom Hill, who both destroyed Oxford in the 100m breastroke. Kate Weber and Ho-on To were Cambridge’s number two swimmers in the breastroke. Again, Dale Waterhouse managed to hold off Oxford in the crucial 100m freestyle event, getting his hand on the timing pad 0.2 seconds ahead of Oxford.

Going into the final events, the score was 70 – 69 to Oxford. It would all be decided by the relays. The women’s medley team – Emily Bottle, Caroline Gordon, Emily Darley and Jo Lister – won with ease, however, the men – Mike Garner-Jones, Tom Hill, Brad Dixon and Henry Marshall – weren’t able to hold off Oxford, causing the points to remain in favor of the dark blues.

The women’s freestyle team – Chloe Spiby Loh, Kat De Rome, Ale Goh and Henny Dillon - took an early lead and maintained it throughout the race to beat Oxford by just under a second. The men – Joel Carpenter, Tom Rootsey, Andy Corley and Dale Waterhouse – needed to win the relay to win the match. Cambridge and Oxford were neck and neck for the duration of the race. No team ever managed to be more than a stroke ahead, or behind.

Cambridge were leading for the most part but one wrong move would’ve cost either team the victory. After three incredible swims, it was all down to the anchor leg, Dale Waterhouse going head to head against the Oxford captain, Tom Booth, having both entered the water together. After turning simultaneously after the first and second length, Waterhouse managed to pull though after the final turn to touch just 0.4 seconds ahead of Oxford in what was the fastest swim by any Cambridge swimmer seen in a Varsity match ever.

Unlike team games, swimming is a sport of mathematical probabilities, but not inevitabilities. On paper, Oxford were the stronger squad. And this is not surprising considering they have their own sports centre, complete with swimming pool, allowing them to afford to employ a coach. Both of these luxuries are lacking at Cambridge.

When it came down to it, it was the a combination of the camaraderie of the Cambridge team, excellent squad selection and the presence of the (appropriately named) man of the match, Dale Waterhouse, which led Cambridge to victory.