Oxford’s women ended eight years of Cambridge dominance in their Boat Race with a sensational performance led by the Olympic medallist Heidi Long, while Cambridge overpowered their dark-blue rivals in the men’s race after a fiercely contested opening for a fourth consecutive win.

On a windy and largely overcast day in London, Oxford’s women forged a lead as soon as the first race of the day sped away from Putney and led by about six seconds at Hammersmith Bridge. Tens of thousands of fans cheered the boats on from the riverside, lining the 6.8km course all the way.

The water was exceptionally rough in the later part of the course and Matt Moran, the Cambridge cox, steered into calmer waters on the left-hander by Chiswick Eyot, taking the inside line and forcing Oxford to respond. Racing into that strong wind, and in exceptionally choppy water beyond Hammersmith Bridge, Cambridge threatened to close the gap in the second half of the race, again heading for the inside line on the right-hand bend by Barnes Bridge.

But Oxford stubbornly refused to cede the advantage and sealed a first triumph in the women’s race since 2016. The celebrations from Oxford team members on the riverside waiting at the finish in Mortlake, and from the athletes in the boat, were loud and passionate.

In contrast the mood was sombre among Cambridge’s group after their dominant run of eight victories was ended emphatically. Oxford thus took their 31st women’s race win since its inception in 1927, with Cambridge having won 49.

“I’m just so proud and happy,” said Long, a bronze medallist for Great Britain in the women’s eight at Paris 2024. “This is a brilliant, brilliant group of women to be on a team with. I have loved worked with them every single day. To be able to do this with them, I’m just so happy. This isn’t down to me. We are one team and we do this together.”

Allan French, the Oxford women’s coach, told Channel 4: “I’m so immensely proud of what they’ve done, what the whole team’s done and what everyone’s done before this. This takes time, it’s years in the making. These girls are incredible … They put their life and soul into this. It’s a brutal race and today they made everybody so proud. Immense, absolutely immense.”

Annie Anezakis, who was Oxford women’s president last year, and along with Sarah Marshall has finally tasted victory at the fourth attempt, said: “What rowing’s taught me is that hard work, resilience and determination always pays off. If you just put it in every day you’ll get the reward. It’s something I’ll take into the rest of my life: hard work and grit always pay off.”

In the men’s race, Oxford put up an impressive fight against what some believe is the finest crew assembled by Cambridge. The light blues were made to work, but asserted their authority in the second half of the race after Oxford had been repeatedly warned for steering into their opponents.

Cambridge were attempting to power away when around Hammersmith Bridge as the wind picked up, but led by less than a length. By Barnes Bridge they had assumed full control and won by four lengths, an advantage of 10 seconds, in conditions Simon Hatcher of Cambridge called “biblical”.

“It certainly doesn’t get old,” said Rob Baker, the Cambridge men’s coach, after their 89th win overall. “There’s a lot of emotion and feeling, because it’s such a momentous day for all the work we put in. Just super pleased the guys could get it done and have the reward for all their hard work.”

Baker, who has been involved as a coach with Cambridge since 2002, said this crew is “up there” in terms of their best. While their success was widely expected, Oxford women’s achievement was the story of the day.

“We talk about resilience,” French said. “For Annie and Sarah to come back and keep doing it. Annie’s a medical student who’s on placement overnight half the time. It’s not easy. It is a challenge. I firmly believe, win or lose, it’s a worthwhile challenge.

“But you talk about resilience – it’s about coming back and believing we can turn it around. We put the time, effort and energy in. They believe in each other. They can feel immensely proud.”