Henley Boat Races, 23 March 1997 Oxford's goose cooked again Phil Halliday reports from Henley-on-Thames Some things never change while others are in a constant state of flux. In the varsity boat races at Henley, Cambridge won three to Oxford's one. That was the same score as in 1996. Cambridge won the women's Blue Boat race for the sixth time in a row and have had the same coaches over that period. Oxford have changed their coaching team every year since 1991, the last time Oxford won that race. For the second consecutive year, Oxford's men's lightweights were the only Oxford crew to win and they have had the same coaches since 1993 and have won three times in that period. Oxford's women can draw comfort from the narrow margins of their defeats. Osiris, the Oxford reserves and tipped to be well beaten, had slipped to two-thirds of a length down by Remenham where a push brought them back into the race. Blondie responded and pushed back to three quarters of a length. Osiris's gallop for the line brought the deficit back to quarter of a length as Blondie held on to win in 6:36.7. Osiris had overrated Blondie throughout, a tactic which they hoped would compensate for Cambridge's greater weight. The Oxford women's lightweights came into the race as the Oxford women's crew most likely to win. Things went well for Oxford for much of the race as they dictated the terms, keeping in front, responding to each Cambridge push. But Cambridge whittled away at the lead from halfway and drew level approaching the island. In the last 250 metres, Cambridge pushed through Oxford to win by a canvas in 6:37.7. 'Everything was great up to about 1,200m, after that I cannot remember much except that they just came through us in the last ten strokes. We lost it in the last ten strokes,' said Megan McNeill, four in the Oxford boat. The Blue Boat race went according to plan, Cambridge's plan that is, but Oxford made them work for it. Oxford slipped behind from the start but no amount of pushes could match Cambridge's superior cruising speed. The distance gradually grew despite some ferocious Oxford pushes that had them rating 39 at Upper Thames. Cambridge won by one and a quarter lengths in 6:26.5. Oxford controlled the men's lightweight race from the start, despite a nasty crab at Upper Thames that was well recovered. Cambridge did bring Oxford back to a quarter of a length, from three quarters of a length, at the Barrier, but it was last ditch stuff and Oxford ran out winners by 1L in 5:49.5. Cambridge won the toss three times, opting for the Bucks station every time. Oxford, who won the women's lightweight toss, chose Berks. The conditions were fair with a cross tail wind. Fred Smallbone, umpire, had a trouble-free afternoon, only raising his flag five times during racing. Results Women's Boat Race: Cambridge beat Oxford by quarter of a length in 6:36.7 secs. Women's lightweights: Cambridge beat Oxford by a canvas, 6:37.7. Blue Boat Race: Cambridge beat Oxford by 1 1/4l, 6:26.5. Men's lightweights: Oxford beat Cambridge by 11 lengths, 5:49.5. © Copyright Phillip Halliday, 1997. © Copyright Phillip Halliday, 1997.