By Tom Ransley
It was never going to be an easy final fixture for Oxford University Women’s Boat Club (OUWBC).
Neighbours, Oxford Brookes, are formidable opponents. Brookes, former Henley Royal Regatta Island Challenge Cup winners were fresh from a third place finish at the 2023 Women’s Head of the River. Since Brookes’ five-length fixture win (from Putney to the Chiswick Eyot) against Cambridge in January, they kept things consistent with just one change in the line-up with Claire Feerick replacing Anna Bloomer at seven.
OUWBC chose the Surrey station after winning the coin toss. On the start line, their cox, Tara Slade, was the last to drop her hand, signalling to Umpire Matt Smith that both crews were ready. Almost immediately he dropped his flag and set the crews off.
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