Women's Boat Race 2012


The 67th Women's Boat Race took place on 26 March 2012. The race was conducted as part of the Henley Boat Races and took place at Henley-on-Thames. In a race umpired by multiple Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent, Cambridge won by one quarter of a length in a time of 6 minutes 38 seconds, their first win since the 2007 race. The victory took the overall record in the event to 41-26 in Cambridge's favour.

Background

The Women's Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between Oxford University Women's Boat Club and the Cambridge University Women's Boat Club that has taken place since 1927. It was conducted as part of the Henley Boat Races, on the traditional straight course at Henley-on-Thames. Oxford went into the race as champions, having won the 2011 race by one quarter of a length, and led 40-26 overall. The race was sponsored by Newton Investment Management, a subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon, for the second successive year.
Cambridge's head coach was Martyn Rooney. The umpire for the race was Matthew Pinsent, gold medallist in the men's coxless pairs at the 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.

Crews

Trials for the crews were held in December 2011. Cambridge's trial boats raced along the Adelaide Straight in Ely and were named Big Fish, Little Fish and Cardboard Box.
Cambridge saw four rowers along with cox Kate Richards return to the crew, all of whom had participated in the 2011 race.

Race

In conditions described as "perfect", Cambridge took an early lead, out-rating Oxford. Pinsent warned OUWBC who were forced to steer away from the CUWBC boat, allowing them to pull further away to lead by one and a half lengths, despite a series of pushes from Oxford. With to go, Cambridge's number two Caroline Reid "caught a crab", bringing the Light Blue boat to a standstill and allowing Oxford to drastically reduce the deficit. Cambridge re-started and crept over the line just ahead. Cambridge won by one quarter of a length in a time of 6 minutes 38 seconds, the slowest winning time since the 2008 race. The margin of victory was the narrowest since CUWBC won by in the 2001 race. It was Cambridge's first win since the 2007 race, and took the overall record in the event to 41–26 in their favour.