Easy win for Oxford

Press, 6 April 1981, Page 30

Easy win for Oxford

NZPA-Reuter London Oxford rowed to its sixth successive victory in the university boat race on the River Thames on Saturday, when it outclassed Cambridge to win by 23 seconds. It was a memorable 18 minutes 11 seconds in the life of the Oxford cox, Sue Brown, the first woman to compete in the 127-year history of the race. Cambridge was never . in the hunt after the first 100 m, and by. the 1600 m mark, Oxford had built up a lead of. more than two lengths. Miss Brown allowed her crew no respite, and Oxford eventually finished the fourmile '374-yard (7km) course more than eight . lengths ahead • of its despondent.

rival, the biggest margin since Cambridge’s 9j length victory in 1973. Oxford’s winning time was lmin 53s outside the record it set in 1976, but it was a remarkable row under the rough conditions and cut Cambridge’s over-all lead to 68-59. Oxford’s victory was a particular triumph for Boris Rankov, who has rowed in the last four winning crews, but the day belonged to Sue Brown, who produced a faultless performance to steer home her smooth and powerful crew. After -the race she said that she would like to do, it all again, but also said: -“I would have to earn :my place. I just hope I will be good enough next,year.