A DRAMATIC Easter Sunday saw Boat Race spoils shared on the River Thames, writes John Wiggins.

Oxford’s women recorded a wide-margin victory in their race, but the Dark Blues men were unable to make it a double success, going down by two-and-a-half lengths.

The south-westerly wind did its best to spoil the day, and very nearly sank Cambridge’s female crew.

Approaching Barnes Bridge, the Light Blues crew had taken on as much water as was possible.

Only modern boat design saved them from complete immersion.

Umpire Rob Clegg waved the red flag offering Cambridge the option of abandoning the race, but they rowed it out, albeit to a 24-length defeat.

The survival of the victorious Dark Blues was jointly down to the watercraft of the crew and the astute steering by cox, Morgan Baynham-Williams.

Having recognised the folly of initially veering towards Chiswick Eyot in search of shelter, twice, the Dark Blues subsequently crossed the better stream to avoid the worst water while Cambridge pinned their hopes on surviving the waves.

The tactic worked, and gave Oxford their fourth consecutive win as well as that for their coach, Christine Wilson, and 2015 president, Anastasia Chitty.

In the men’s race, Cambridge chose the Surrey station, closing down one of Oxford’s much-needed lifelines from the start.

Rowing with a longer, steadier rhythm against Oxford’s punchy style, it took until nearly halfway before they established clear water and the freedom of the river.

As the water roughened in the fierce headwind, Cambridge, on the inside of their long Surrey bend, coped better with the waves and steadily eased further ahead.

Oxford fought to the end where, in flatter waters, both crews somehow mustered a sprint finish, but it was Cambridge who came out on top, taking the overall Boat Race score to 82-79.

Oxford president, Morgan Gerlak paid tribute to his crew, and vowed they would be back stronger than ever next year.

“We are part of the best boat club in the world with the best coaches and the best athletes,” he said.

Oxford coach Sean Bowden described the conditions as the “worst I’ve ever seen in a Boat Race”, adding: “It’s disappointing, but we fought very courageously.”

The races for the reserve crews unusually went contrary to their blue boat results as Oxford’s Isis won by two lengths while the light blue, Blondie got the better of Osiris by three lengths.