Cambridge win 153rd University Boat Race

Favourites Cambridge won the 153rd University Boat Race against Oxford on the River Thames yesterday.

Oxford led for much of the race but a bigger, stronger Cambridge crew (picture) forged ahead in the final stages to secure the university's first win since 2004.

"I think it was the hardest race I've ever raced, Cambridge stroke Thorsten Englemann said.

"I was a bit surprised that, in the first one to two miles, they were really so fast but we handled it quite well and we won," added the 25-year-old.

Englemann, who was a member of Germany's world title winning men's eight team, was the heaviest oarsman to take part in the boat race at 110.8 kg (17 stone 6lbs).

Cambridge president Tom James was taking part in his fourth and final race and was victorious for the first time, having missed the 2004 win. "We knew it was going to be so tough. We just said to ourselves stick in it, stay relaxed and trust each other and it worked," James said.

Cambridge lead the series 79-73 with one dead heat in 1877.