Bridgewater helps Oxford to victory

George Bridgewater was one of five Beijing Olympians in the Oxford University eight that has beaten Cambridge

New Zealand rower George Bridgewater is pinching himself after helping the Oxford University crew to victory over Cambridge in the prestigious boat race on the River Thames.

Pre-race favourites Oxford comfortably won the 155th edition of the race, although Cambridge still leads the head-to-head 79-75, with one dead-heat.

Cambridge took advantage of a sluggish start by their rivals to open up a slight lead, which they held as the crews went below Hammersmith Bridge. However, the Light Blues simply had no answer to the stronger, heavier Oxford crew as they breezed around the outside to take a lead they would never lose. Oxford crossed the line first in a time of 17 minutes to seal its 75th win in the series. It was a fourth win for the Dark Blues in the past five years and they had the heaviest crew in the 180 year history of the event.

Bridgewater says it was the most amazing experience. He says it was surreal to see people lining the river banks some three hours before the race. George Bridgewater is the second New Zealander to compete for Oxford, following in the footsteps of JH Lascelles in 1934.

Chris Nilsson, who coached the New Zealand four to world championship glory, was in charge of the Cambridge crew.