Oxford were one stone a woman lighter than Cambridge in their Boat Race at Henley but they led from the start, maintained a higher stroke rate, and won by just over a length.

The Dark Blues’ new coach, Andy Green, was ecstatic. “They did me proud,” he said. “I was reduced to tears.”

On the day, the honours came out even with two race wins apiece. Oxford’s lightweight women, the only 2008 Dark Blue losers, gained revenge and won by two-and-a half lengths, four of the crew having suffered in that 2008 defeat.

Osiris, Oxford’s reserve women’s crew faced the heaviest ever Cambridge Blondie crew and went down by one-and-a-half lengths, the Light Blues’ first win since 2000.

Another long-running Oxford success story also came to an end in the men’s lightweight contest. Oxford were after an eighth successive victory, but Cambridge eased home by three lengths.

Meanwhile, Oxford Brookes were the only local winners in the Tideway Head of the River.

Their top crew finished sixth out of 400 and won the Senior 1 and University pennants.