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22 March 2009: Oxford retained the Francombe Cup with wins in the Women's Boat Race as well as the women's lightweights, but Cambridge reversed long term trends by regaining both the men's lightweights and the women's reserves race.

On a glorious spring afternoon on Henley Reach it was all too easy to forget the wind and rain which had marred Race Day for the last few years, and with only a slight north-westerly breeze to cool the air record crowds turned out on the towpath to enjoy the sunshine and support the crews.

The programme kicked off with the third successive row-over for Nephthys to take the trophy for the lightweight men's reserve race. The Oxford crew had earlier beaten a Durham student eight by about three lengths and completed the course in their row-over in 6 mins 15 secs. The race now falls into abeyance after its short ten-year history and will hopefully be revived once agreement has been reached by the two participating clubs.

The women's reserve race saw Osiris, for Oxford, lead off the start as they attempted to continue a run of success which began as long ago as 2001. But Blondie, who had won the toss and chosen the Berkshire station, hung on grimly and when the Dark Blues began to falter they seized the advantage and clawed back the lead. Umpire Mike Williams was kept busy after a clash of blades at Fawley, by which time Blondie were already ahead, and Osiris could not get back their rhythm, going down by 1 1/2 lengths at the line.

Cambridge also won the toss in the women's lightweight race and again chose Berkshire, despite the shelter from the wind that the Bucks station might have provided. The Light Blues went off at 43 against Oxford at 41 but it was the Dark Blues' clean technique that gave them the early advantage and they were already five seconds clear at Fawley. Unlike their openweight counterparts the Cambridge lightweights could not make good the deficit, and Oxford widened the gap to win by a nine second verdict which was officially given as 2 1/2 lengths.

With honours even in the women's boat race for the last four years the form guide from the Women's Eights Head two weeks ago suggested that Oxford might draw ahead once more. This time they won the toss, again chose Berkshire, and eased ahead at 44 strokes a minute against Cambridge at 46. Oxford kept up the rate and the pressure, settling into a race pace of 35, three pips higher than the opposition, and once again the deficit at Fawley was five seconds. In the closing stages of the race Cambridge managed to get the rate back up to 36 to narrow the gap but to no avail - Oxford, also at 36, crossed the line 1 1/4 lengths clear in 6mins 24secs.

As Cambridge got attached at the start of the lightweight men's boat race the stakeboat man noticed the steering mechanism had come adrift! Rapid repairs were effected as the crew waited for a passenger vessel to clear the course, and when the umpire dropped his flag it was Cambridge who rocketed off the start at 50 strokes a minute. Technically superior throughout the course they kept up the pressure and the higher rate to finish nine seconds clear and secure their first victory in the event since 2001.

Prizes were presented to all the successful crews after racing by Annie Vernon, now one of many Henley Boat Race athletes who have gone on to world and Olympic class sporting endeavour. The final presentation was the Francombe Cup, the victor ludorum trophy, which was presented to the Oxford presidents for having won the afternoon's racing programme 3-2.

17 March 2009: The athletes of the Cambridge women's Blue Boat weighed-in at an average 75.6kg per at the River and Rowing Museum this morning, with Oxford at an average of 69.2kg, some 6.4kg (14 lbs) lighter.

But the record weight difference - the largest since the start of the official Weigh-In in 2001 - is unlikely to worry Oxford, who will know that, unlike the men's race between Putney and Mortlake, weight is not necessarily the deciding factor.

The heavier crew wins the men's heavyweights race twice in every three encounters, but in the women's race it's the lighter crew which has the advantage, at least on paper. And with honours even over the last four years, supporters are looking forward to another keenly-fought contest on Sunday.

In the reserves race Blondie, for Cambridge, established another crew record at 75.6kg per athlete, some 2.7kg average heavier than Oxford, who have had a consistent run of success in the reserves contest over the last few years.

The lightweight crews will weigh-in on Race Day itself, with the men needing to weigh less than 72.5kg, and the women less than 59.0kg.

The weather for the remainder of Race Week is set fair, and as the river banks dry out after the winter rain the forecast indicates that the largest crowds for many years can be expected on the towpath.

17 December 2008: Cambridge President George Blessley named his trial crews 'Feeling' and 'Emotion' on the assumption that some of his men could get in touch 'with their softer side', but the final outcome was a hard race and a finely fought contest where just three feet separated the crews at the line.

Rowed on a fine crisp morning, with little wind but a very strong stream, 'Feeling' went off at 38 on the Berkshire station and seemed to be going away from 'Emotion', who rated 36. But the crew on Bucks found a good solid rhythm, just as the Oxford crew on that station had done ten days earlier, and their 3/4L lead was gradually whittled back.

'Feeling' did themselves no favours by swinging wide into the bay at Remenham, allowing 'Emotion' to come right back on terms, despite having the lower rate at 34, but when they upped the rate approaching the Island it looked as though victory might be theirs. But the early leaders, with Blessley in the 7 seat, still had something left as they raised their rate back up to 38 and reached the Finish just three feet ahead.

Crews:

7 December 2008: The Oxford Lightweights' Trials Race over Henley Reach resulted in the closest margin on the history of the race when 'Boom' held on to victory over the 2000m course against 'Bust' by just two inches.

'Bust' took the early lead on the Berkshire station and quickly settled to 34 strokes a minute, but then 'Boom', stroked by OULRC President Ben Harrop-Griffiths, found their rhythm at 33 and drew ahead. For a moment the race looked all over as Bust paid for their early lead and looked increasingly ragged against a cohesive opposition, but they regained the initiative and began to build an attack which was sustained all the way from the Farm to the Island.

As the crews approached the potential funnel at the Finish 'Boom' were warned for their steering by umpire Mark Blandford-Baker, but when they eventually responded 'Bust' went across with them and the blades overlapped for several strokes. Both crews now scented victory and charged for the line, crossing together in a time of 5mins 51 secs. 'Bust' thought they had the race in the bag but the verdict was given to 'Boom' by just two inches - less than the diameter of a bow ball.

Crews:

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