page:  = The Boat Race 2008 = 
   
   The 154th Boat Race took place on 29 March 2008 . Held annually , the event is a side @-@ by @-@ side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames . Oxford won the race . Oxford 's crew featured the oldest competitor in Boat Race history . The race took place in very difficult weather conditions – strong winds and heavy rain – resulting in the slowest winning time in over sixty years . Oxford won by six lengths , the largest margin of victory since the 2004 race . 
   Oxford 's Isis beat Cambridge 's Goldie in the reserve race , while Oxford won the Women 's Boat Race . 
   
   = = Background = = 
   
   The Boat Race is a side @-@ by @-@ side rowing competition between the University of Oxford ( sometimes referred to as the " Dark Blues " ) and the University of Cambridge ( sometimes referred to as the " Light Blues " ) . First held in 1829 , the race takes place on the 4 @.@ 2 @-@ mile ( 6 @.@ 8 km ) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London . The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide . Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions , having beaten Oxford by over a length in the previous year 's race and the overall lead , with 79 victories to Oxford 's 73 . The race was sponsored by Xchanging for the fourth time . 
   The first Women 's Boat Race took place in 1927 , but did not become an annual fixture until the 1960s . Until 2014 , the contest was conducted as part of the Henley Boat Races , but as of the 2015 race , it is held on the River Thames , on the same day as the men 's main and reserve races . The reserve race , contested between Oxford 's Isis boat and Cambridge 's Goldie boat has been held since 1965 . It usually takes place on the Tideway , prior to the main Boat Race . 
   
   = = Crews = = 
   
   Oxford 's crew weighed an average of 12 pounds ( 5 @.@ 4 kg ) more per rower than their opponents , and featured the oldest competitor in Boat Race history in 36 @-@ year @-@ old American Mike Wherley . Cambridge crew consisted of six Britons , two Australians and an American , while Oxford 's comprised four Americans , three Britons , an Australian and a German . Both coxes , Nick Brodie and Rebecca Dowbiggin , were former Blues , while Cambridge also saw 30 @-@ year @-@ old Tom Edwards return , having rowed in 2006 . Cambridge 's boat club president Dan O 'Shaughnessy was the seventh Light Blue president not to row in his own Blue Boat . 
   
   = = Race = = 
   
   Oxford were pre @-@ race favourites , but Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station . Oxford took an early lead , but the boats closed on each other , and Umpire John Garrett was forced to issue a number of warnings to both coxes in an attempt to prevent a collision . By Craven Cottage , Oxford were nearly a length ahead and Cambridge responded ; by the time the crews passed under Hammersmith Bridge they were level . Along Chiswick Eyot Oxford moved ahead once again , and were clear of Cambridge after 30 strokes . Oxford extended their lead to pass the finishing post in 20 minutes 53 seconds , six lengths and 22 seconds ahead of their opponents . Driving rain , strong winds and choppy water resulted in the slowest winning time for over sixty years , but the largest margin of victory since the 2004 race . 
   Oxford 's Isis beat Cambridge 's Goldie by three @-@ and @-@ a @-@ quarter lengths in the reserve race . Oxford won the 44th running of the Women 's Boat Race by half a length . 
   
   = = Reaction = = 
   
   Oxford 's Oliver Moore said " we got the rage going in the crew , and we started to kill it , we hit an awesome rhythm " . Cambridge coach Duncan Holland congratulated his opponents : " Well done to Oxford , they were much faster on the day " . Following tradition , the victorious Oxford crew tossed their cox Brodie into the Thames . 
   
   