Varsity Boat Race joy for oarsman Reed (From Stroud News and Journal)

Varsity Boat Race joy for oarsman Reed

NAILSWORTH'S Peter Reed tasted sweet revenge as Oxford's giant crew powered their way to victory over Cambridge in Sunday's 151st University Boat Race on the River Thames.

Reed, 23, was part of the Oxford crew who endured a bitter defeat last year, but the Royal Navy Officer and former Deer Park pupil used his experience to help guide Oxford home.

Reed said: "Winning the Boat Race feels unbelievable. This is the greatest feeling I've ever had, and I will treasure this moment for the rest of my life.

"I actually woke up in the morning thinking we would win it.

"Crossing the line was unbelievable, almost surreal, the elation that all that effort had paid off.

"Winning the Boat Race, especially after last year, will live with me for ever. No one can take that away from me, the fact that I'm a Boat Race winner."

It was Reed's last chance of glory as he doing a two-year post-grad course.

His father Leo added: "We're ecstatic, Peter deserved it after last year. The whole team were exceptional."

This week Reed set off with the GB squad for a 10-day camp in Varese, Italy, to train for the GB trials next month.

The heaviest eight in race history used their record 10 kilogram per man advantage to secure a clear-cut victory over the 4.25-mile course.

Their winning time of 16 minutes and 41 seconds was the fourth fastest ever, but 22 seconds outside Cambridge's 1998 record.

Oxford, averaging 98.5 kilogrames per man to the 88.6 kilograms of the Light Blues, took the early lead after Cambridge won the toss and chose the Middlesex side.

Cambridge battled their way back to briefly get on level terms, but Oxford had opened a gap of half a length by Hammersmith Bridge and they never looked back.

The crews, containing four Olympians each, had been hailed as the best ever in terms of quality.

Umpire Boris Rankov kept a tight rein on both crews in the early stages, issuing warnings to prevent a repeat of last year's debacle that saw Cambridge pull away after clashing oars with Oxford.

Cambridge coach Robin Williams left his 11th and final boat race with a defeat before moving to his new job in charge of British rowing's lightweight men's and women's national squads.