 Bookmakers could not initially separate the crews , offering odds on for either boat to win . However , as the start of the race approached , Williams had suggested that he was worried by his crew 's " inconsistency " and Oxford were declared favourites . Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station . Despite being warned by umpire Davis , Cambridge were soon half @-@ a @-@ length ahead , and a second clear by the Mile Post . The lead was extended to a length by Hammersmith Bridge and Sharif had steered her boat into a better angle of attack . Pushing on , Cambridge were seven seconds up by Chiswick Steps and nine seconds at Barnes Railway Bridge . They passed the finishing post three @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half lengths ahead , with an eleven @-@ second advantage over the Dark Blues . The Light Blues finished in 16 minutes 41 seconds , a time only bettered once before , in 1998 . It was the first time since 1936 that Cambridge had secured seven consecutive victories . 
 Bookmakers could not initially separate <a href='None' title='1'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='2'><mark>crews</mark></a> , offering odds on for either boat to win . However , as the start of the race approached , Williams <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> suggested that he was worried by his crew <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>" inconsistency " and Oxford <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> declared favourites . Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station . Despite being warned by umpire Davis , Cambridge <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> soon half @-@ a @-@ length ahead , and a second clear by the Mile Post . The lead was extended to a length by Hammersmith Bridge and Sharif <a href='been_done' title='7'><mark>had</mark></a> steered her boat into a better angle of attack . Pushing on , Cambridge <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>were</mark></a> seven seconds up by Chiswick Steps and nine seconds at Barnes Railway Bridge . They passed the finishing post three @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half lengths ahead , with an eleven @-@ second advantage over the Dark Blues . The Light Blues<a href='been_done' title='9'><mark></mark></a> finished in 16 minutes 41 seconds , a time only bettered once before , in 1998 . It was the first time since 1936 <a href='null_relcl' title='10'><mark>that</mark></a>Cambridge <a href='been_done' title='11'><mark>had</mark></a> secured seven consecutive victories . 
Bookmakers could not initially separate no crews , offering odds on for either boat to win . However , as the start of the race approached , Williams done suggested that he was worried by his crew  " inconsistency " and Oxford was declared favourites . Cambridge won da toss and elected to start from tdaSurrey station . Despite being warned by umpire Davis , Cambridge was soon half @-@ a @-@ length ahead , and a second clear by the Mile Post . The lead was extended to a length by Hammersmith Bridge and Sharif done steered her boat into a betta angle of attack . Pushing on , Cambridge was seven seconds up by Chiswick Steps and nine seconds at Barnes Railway Bridge . They passed the finishing post three @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half lengths ahead , with an eleven @-@ second advantage ova the Dark Blues . The Light Blues done finished in 16 minutes 41 seconds , a time only bettered once before , in 1998 . It was thdairst time since 1936 Cambridge done secured seven consecutive victories .