Early collision leaves Oxford high and dry in controversial boat race

Oxford cox Zoe de Toledo has reiterated her belief that Saturday’s Boat Race should have been re-rowed after one of her crew-mates broke his oar.

Dr Hanno Wienhausen, Oxford’s six man, had his blade snapped clean off in a clash 45 seconds after the race had been restarted following the intervention of a swimming protester.

Inevitably, Cambridge pulled clear to win one of the most eventful, controversial and dramatic Boat Races by four-and-a-quarter lengths. De Toledo immediately appealed for the race to be re-rowed, but umpire John Garrett ruled the clash had been her fault and confirmed Cambridge the victors.

The Oxford crew did not conduct any interviews after the race as bowman Dr Alexander Woods received treatment, having collapsed through exhaustion. He has since been released from hospital. But De Toledo released a statement yesterday urging Boat Race organisers to ensure no crew is ever made to complete the race a man down.

“Ultimately it is just a tragedy that neither crew had the opportunity to display its best ability over the full course from Putney to Mortlake,” De Toledo said. “We are devastated that we did not get the chance to find out what we were capable of achieving in the second half of the race, and many of us will never have that opportunity again.

“It is our sincerest hope that every future Boat Race crew, from both Oxford and Cambridge, is afforded the chance to fairly test themselves over the full four-and-a-quarter miles that make the Boat Race such a unique event.”

De Toledo was gesturing for Garrett to halt the race immediately after the clash of oars and she immediately appealed for a re-row at the finish line.

Garrett had been warning Oxford to move away from Cambridge’s boat before the clash.

De Toledo reportedly argued the rough water meant she could not move the boat back towards the Middlesex station, but Garrett dismissed the appeal. “I could see a clash was going to happen so I started to warn Oxford to move back on to the Middlesex station – a couple of warnings – and there was a collision and some serious damage done to an Oxford blade,” Garrett said.

“Because I was comfortable Cambridge were in the right place on the river I did not see it as grounds for stopping the race or doing anything other than let it run its course.”