Rowing: Oxford rewrite records

Oxford University wrote itself into the rowing history books yesterday, as its women's and lightweight crews won all five races at the Henley Boat Races. Oxford's clean sweep was not only the first ever for the Dark Blues, but also included an unprecedented 100 per cent result for their three women's crews, supervised by chief coach Ian Shore.

"This makes everything else we're doing get noticed," said Shore, whose heavyweight oarswomen, back at training on Tuesday preparing for Commonwealth and Under-23 trials, won by seven seconds.

Cambridge put up a valiant fight in all five races, but the closest margins of the day came in the two lightweight men's events, Cambridge crossing the line just six seconds down in each. Oxford's lightweight men, however, smashed the course record by eight full seconds.

The most impressive row came from Oxford's lightweight women, equalling the course record to half way and then opening the gap to their best-ever distance of four lengths in quick conditions. With reserves Osiris completing the set, 5-0 lays down a challenge to the Oxford heavyweight men in Saturday's Boat Race in London.