Race report in the Independent. Reports also in the Times and the Telegraph. Photo of the 2000 crew.

While rumours spread of Cambridge indulging in winter training and long paddles from their new Crabtree base, the Oxford challenge for 2000 was rather slower to get off the ground. Indeed Alexander Lindsay, the co-ordinating hero of what was to prove to be a marvellously successful campaign, suffered a frustrating winter trying to track down potential oarsmen, organise the outings and persuade them to divulge those elusive erg. times. But evidently Steve Plunkett was training hard and keen to get back after a year off and Jerry Dale was again willing to cycle from Ely to Shiplake on a Sunday afternoon for the sheer pleasure of a gruelling outing and another demanding journey home. Tom Cadoux Hudson was out for revenge after last year's debacle with his stretcher and when Alan Kirkpatrick agreed to row again we knew we had the makings of a really good crew.

Problems revolved around getting everyone together to practice and for the first time we were also faced with some tricky selection issues when it became apparent that there were actually ten oarsmen competing for places. The superfit and reliable Jon Billowes took the bow seat again while Jerry Dale got the nod at 2 over Martyn Kelly, a splendid new recruit who is rowing regularly and will no doubt figure in future years. Tom Barry, smarting from last year's loss, was an obvious choice at 3. Paul Marsden was back, initially fitter than last year but later succumbing to an illness and so generously agreed to sub whenever required. What a star he turned out to be, firstly subbing in every practice outing and then, when Tom C-H was detained in Oxford for an emergency operation, rowing with huge distinction in the race itself. At 6 he was in front of Steve Plunkett and behind the experienced and very determined stern pair from last year of Mark Dunstan and Alan Kirkpatrick. The 4 seat was occupied by the youngster of the crew Andrew McLean Inglis whose erg. score and age made him a natural selection.

Indeed this was a very fit crew: All stronger than the year before and despite lack of time together much the better for it. A number competed in the Veteran's Head for their clubs and all sacrificed family time at weekends to get together. A more pleasant and amenable group would be hard to find and their good humour, enthusiasm and responsiveness made coaching, if it can be called that, a real pleasure. If all goes as well as it eventually did this year there can surely be no better way to throw off those winter blues.

Training began in fours at Shiplake with only a couple of Sundays possible in the VIII. On the second of these, with nearly a full crew and Alan at stroke for the first time, things began to take off in earnest. A surprisingly nippy J16 crew from Shiplake provided just the right test over two hard fought pieces. Alan really pushed the crew along blowing away the cobwebs and reminding everyone of the intensity and pressure of side by side racing. It came at exactly the right moment in our well planned training programme!

A slight concern in previous years had been the coxing. This year it was a problem wonderfully solved by new recruit Nicola Oddie. Not only did she steer well but she knew the importance of avoiding the clashes that so spoilt the two previous races. She was also quick to appreciate the mixture of experience and wisdom in a veteran crew full of chiefs (and few indians) and she contributed splendidly to the planning and plotting in a very sensitive way. Everyone felt reassured and confident and she was a splendid addition to the team.

Practices on the Tideway with the full crew were virtually impossible and the first ended disastrously with a damaged boat but one excellent evening outing was possible and the water was beautifully calm on the day of the race enabling a perfect paddle and practice in the morning. A clear warm-up plan was essential as was a well-understood start sequence. Despite the lack of preparation both were given a thorough going over and the reward was that they worked superbly in the afternoon.

If a crew has so few outings at its disposal then the build up we had this year might well serve as a model for the future. Success will depend on ever improving levels of basic fitness as tested on the ergometer, a few really intensive practices in the week before the race and complete confidence in an agreed strategy.

Learning from last year's rather scrappy but long warm-up, this time we stuck to the plan and were comfortably and relaxed on the start long before Cambridge made a slightly undignified and breathless arrival. They were first warned for lateness and then wrapped themselves around their stakeboat causing a flurry of excitement, some dented riggers and one or two bruised egos. Cool, comfortable and visibly gaining in confidence while waiting for the start, the discipline in the Oxford boat was admirable, although the hint of a smile did seem to creep across one or two faces as the 'Tabs removed their tracksuits and appeared a little less fit and firm than expected!

When the race finally began Oxford made the unhurried and steady start that had been planned, conserving energy for later efforts and resisting the temptation to get a commanding quick lead. We had won the toss and chose Surrey, confident of holding Cambridge in the first three minutes and then using the Harrods bend to our advantage. Cambridge worked very hard to pull away but gained no more than a man or two, rating higher, looking a little frantic and failing to find a real rhythm. Down the line of boats it was anybody's race but Oxford looked more composed and after two minutes began to pull through, rowing with an authority and style not seen in previous more frantic encounters.

The crews then began to converge, the umpire had his work cut out for a minute but Nicola was unfazed and we began to establish a clear lead at a lower rating. When the inevitable clash came it was our seven to their two and coincided with a planned 'push'. Very quickly Oxford went clear and barring disasters the race was won. Paul Marsden had done his stuff, the crew relaxed and from 2 seconds at the mile the lead increased to a comfortable 8 seconds or nearly three lengths at the finish. It must be the most emphatic win in the history of the race and will, one hopes, inspire many more recruits to join the Oxford veteran team in the future.

But success doesn't just happen. Enormous thanks must go to Alexander Lindsay for his patient and long-suffering co-ordination of the campaign and his charming powers of gentle persuasion. Thanks also to those who put themselves forward but didn't get selected simply because of the need to find the right age combination. We shall certainly need their full involvement again. The OUBC lent us a very sound boat and supported the race with launches on the day. This was a crew that 'clicked' at exactly the right moment. The chemistry worked perfectly and it was a privilege to be part of such a delightful group.

We cannot rest on our laurels however. Cambridge have a strong core of rowers who get together regularly and it is doubtful that they derived much enjoyment from any of this years boat races! We must try to do more groundwork in the autumn and through the winter. But for the moment a splendidly well balanced crew can be proud of being the catalyst for a remarkable series of Oxford victories. The Blue Boat certainly noted the result and their increased confidence, after witnessing the terrific example of determination and competitiveness of their predecessors, would surely have been a factor in their own magnificent triumph. This was unquestionably our best veteran crew so far.

Nick Bevan