Cambridge storm to victory in Boat Race

It was a triumph, too, for 23-year-old cox Rebecca Dowbiggin, who insists that she hated games' at school but revealed a ruthless streak as Cambridge turned the screw in the final charge for victory.

The winning margin of one-and-a-quarter lengths in a time of 17min 49sec told the cold statistical story of one of the best Boat Races for years, although it gave no clue as to how hard Oxford made it for their rivals.

Noone deserved victory more than James, a loser in three Cambridge boats before he managed to turn this year's race into a defining moment of triumph.

A member of the Great Britain eight who contested the Olympics at Athens, James finished without a medal at those Games.

But there was no denying his moment of glory yesterday as Cambridge fought off the Oxford crew. They romped through the middle arch of Barnes Bridge in the lead to complete the destruction of their arch enemy in the finishing sprint to Chiswick Bridge.

Wreathed in smiles and sodden by his dunking in the Thames at the end, James was speechless for a moment as he climbed out of the winning boat.

But as his crew soaked up the adulation of their champagne-swigging supporters in the boathouse at Mortlake, James gathered his shattered senses and said: "I can't describe it. Three defeats, now this. I'm overwhelmed with relief.

"Oxford were relentless. This is a great day for Cambridge. I have no regrets about losing three times when I can win in this manner."

Thorsten Englemann, the heaviest oarsman in the race at 17st 6lb and a gold medal winner in the German eight at last year's World Championship, rowed like a lion to give the Light Blues the edge in the finishing straight.

He said: "This is the hardest race I've ever rowed. I'm a bit surprised Oxford were so fast. But we handled the pressure well."

Clear underdogs in the build-up, Oxford punched above their weight to give Cambridge the fight of their lives.

They failed to produce the winning form of the past two years, but they more than matched their superior predecessors to shake the Cambridge crew from the start.

Nothing separated them in the first third of the race, with the near-perfect conditions favouring Cambridge after they were given the Middlesex side when Oxford won the toss.

The strong favourites found themselves behind six minutes in and as the crews stormed towards Hammersmith Bridge, Oxford were looking to pull clear. When St Paul's School came into view, Oxford were leading by threequarters of a length and at the bridge, water could be seen between the crews.

But Cambridge raised the tempo and harnessed all their power to seal a memorable victory.