Oxford University women’s president, Anastasia Chitty, played down the domination that her squad had so clearly demonstrated after the Blue boat won by seven lengths, writes John Wiggins.

The women’s reserve boats raced the day before, with Oxford’s Osiris beating Cambridge’s Blondie by an unequivocal 15 lengths.

Chitty paid tribute to her squad and the “amazing coaches”, Christine Wilson and Natasha Townsend but also to the “so many women before us who have not had this opportunity."

While the athletes in the Oxford boat were seemingly better trained, their victory was in no small measure assisted by their American stroke, Caryn Davies.

With two gold medals and a silver from the Olympics, she is the most decorated rower to have competed in either Boat Race.

In addition to studying for an unforgiving MBA, she has not sat back in training nor relied on past glory but has led from the front, clearly having given her all by the end of the 19mins 45secs it took them to cover the four and a quarter miles from Putney to Mortlake.

Oxford wasted no time in taking control in the choppy water in the first two minutes.

By the time the two boats were around the Fulham bend and into the flat-calm waters, the river belonged to Oxford to use as they wished.

There was no let up and the pressure was piled on to extend the lead at each of the timing points, setting new markers for female rowers to measure against next year and beyond.

l City of Oxford RC took the lion’s share of local wins with 11 categories, at the Abingdon Head of the River race.

Ava Dale, in addition to winning the WJ16 title, was also the fastest female sculler of the day for the second consecutive year.

Falcon RC were pleased with eight wins, ranging from Gabe Smith’s boys J14 single to their women’s Masters D quad and double scull.

Wallingford also had a full age-range of success in their five victories including WJ16 quads.