Men's rowing team race to victory

The Newcastle men's rowing team has claimed an historic victory in the annual university boat race.

Despite heavy rain thousands turned out to watch the Newcastle senior men's team beat its Durham counterparts for the first time in nine years.

Newcastle's novice women's team also won their race making the final result a tie between the two universities.

A spokeswoman for sponsor Northumbrian Water said Durham's stranglehold over the event had been finally broken.

'Fantastic first'

The most convincing win of the afternoon belonged to Durham's senior women who stormed to victory by 12 lengths over Newcastle.

The Northumbrian Water spokeswoman said: "The Durham senior men's boat was struck by debris and began sinking by the stern, forcing a restart in their second boat.

"With the race finally under way, it was neck and neck from the start. As the crews crossed the line, there was virtually nothing between them.

"A photo-finish, followed by a stewards' inquiry, handed a fantastic first victory to Newcastle."

Chairman of the boat race executive committee, Graham Rayner, said: "This was undoubtedly the best boat race yet."