Oxford were able to bring to an end Cambridge's recent supremacy in the men's Boat Race with victory on the traditional university race's return to the River Thames. In the first Boat Race held in London since 2019, the Dark Blues halted their rivals' run of three straight race wins to give long-serving chief coach Sean Bowden a 13th success in his 25th year in the role.
The bookmakers had made Oxford the overwhelming favourites for the 167th men's race and they delivered to claim bragging rights for the first time in five years. It denied Cambridge another double after their women had roared to a fifth victory in a row with a record time of 18 minutes and 22.936 seconds.
After two years away from the capital, following the cancelation of the 2020 showpiece and last year's race being held at the remote location of the Great River Ouse, every row was on this occasion met with loud cheers. There were a number of Olympians involved including multiple gold-medalist umpire Matthew Pinsent, who warned both crews early on to stay apart on the 4.2-mile championship course.
