The lead changed twice during the race, which Oxford won by one foot (30 cm): the smallest margin of victory in the history of the event.

[1] First held in 1829, the race takes place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course, between Putney and Mortlake on the River Thames in south-west London.

[6][7] The race was sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management for the fourth consecutive year,[1] and was the first to be scheduled on a Sunday, in order to avoid a clash with the live television broadcast of the Grand National.

[5] The umpire for the race was former Oxford rower Boris Rankov, who had represented the Dark Blues a record six times between 1978 and 1983.

[14] Wayne Pommen, the first-choice Cambridge bow, was injured two days before the race, fracturing his wrist following a full-speed collision with the harbourmaster's launch during a practice start.

"[17] Pommen was circumspect: "A few of us were feeling quite lucky last night ... at the same time, it was very frustrating and disappointing ... but there was no point sulking in the corner.

[13] Robin Bourne-Taylor, Basil Dixon and Matt Smith had rowed for Oxford in the 2002 race, while, in James Livingston, Cambridge saw just one Blue return from the previous year's event.

[32] Oxford took an early lead with a slightly higher stroke rate than Cambridge as both coxes were warned by the umpire to avoid a clash.

[33] Oxford continued to stay in touch with Cambridge along the long middle bend of the course, towards the Chiswick Steps, and retook the lead on the approach to Barnes Bridge as the course curved back in their favour.

[5] At the finish, following tradition, the Oxford crew threw their cox, Acer Nethercott, into the water in celebration.

[32] Earlier, Oxford won the 58th women's race in a time of 6 minutes 35 seconds, 3+1⁄2 lengths ahead of their Light Blue opponents.

[43] He went on to say: "We have got an awesome bunch of guys in this squad ... but I have such respect for Cambridge ... with a lighter crew we've turned round the biggest weight deficit in history.

I just wish I could stop losing these epic races" while the Cambridge coach Williams described the defeat as a "blow to the heart".

[49] The race is retold in the book Blood Over Water, authored by opposing brothers James and David Livingston.

"[42] Author and journalist Christopher Dodd, writing in Rowing News summarised the race as "incredible" and a "titanic struggle of wills".