On Sunday Cambridge and Oxford Boat Clubs met, not in London but up the river in sunny Henley.  The picnic-consuming crowds were out in force to watch as Cambridge recovered from a couple of early losses to see the Women’s Blues and Men’s Lightweights beat their Dark Blue counterparts.

First up was the women’s reserves boat, Blondie, taking on Osiris of Oxford.  Oxford jumped out to take the lead at the half, before an unfortunate crab after a clash of oars left the Cambridge boat with too much to do, with Osiris winning by 3.5 lengths to reclaim the title after last year’s disqualification.  The women’s Lightweights saw another Oxford victory, as the Dark Blue boat was able to get position, leaving Cambridge struggling in the choppy water and unable to recover.

Next were women’s Blue boats, in an event that Cambridge haven’t won for the past four years.  Cambridge led from the start after Oxford were given an early warning by umpire Sir Matthew Pinsent, and Cambridge appeared to be running away with it.  An unfortunate crab caught by Caroline Reid of Cambridge gave Oxford an opening, however, as Cambridge stalled in the water, but a remarkable recovery by Reid, described by Pinsent as one of the best recoveries he’s ever seen, allowed the Light Blues to hold on by a whisker in a very exciting finish.

The final race, the men’s Lightweights, was another hotly contested encounter.  Cambridge held a narrow lead at the half, and both coxes received warnings from Pinsent as they jostled for position.  Once again the Light Blues were able to hold out to win by ¾ of a length.

An exact reversal of 2011’s results, this day was won by Cambridge who took home the Francombe cup.  For the women’s Blues this was perhaps doubly special given Oxford’s recent dominance.  Having put in so much over the past year, Club President Izzi Boanas-Evans was “so proud of my squad and everything we’ve done today.  It is what CUW deserve”.  It now only remains for the men’s boat to do the same on the 7th of April.