 Mike Rosewell , writing in The Times complimented all of the race participants : " the 18 individuals involved produced one of the greatest races since 1829 . " Former Oxford coach Daniel Topolski , writing for The Observer , described the Oxford 's win as " scintillating " and noted that the crews were " locked in combat for fully three and a half miles . " Christopher Dodd , writing in The Guardian suggested that " the promise was delivered ; a rare race " . 
