Durham rowers dominate boat race

A last-minute clash of oars set back Newcastle in the Senior Men's

Durham University overwhelmed rivals Newcastle, taking all four events at the Tyne-Wear boat race.

The university won the Freshmen's and Freshwomen's eights, along with the Senior Men's and Women's races, in the 12th annual clash on the River Tyne.

Thousands of spectators lined the 1,800m course, which finished under the Millennium Bridge.

Durham University's Vice-Chancellor, Chris Higgins, described the victorious students as "truly remarkable".

Colin Blackburn, chairman of the boat race executive committee, said: "It has been a very good day. The fine weather has brought a lot of people out to watch the University Boat Race, and it didn't disappoint.

"I think Newcastle were always going to have a difficult task against Durham, whose rowers are the best in the country.

"It was very unfortunate that the last minute clash of oars probably cost Newcastle a victory in the Senior Men's race."

A Newcastle University boat club spokesman said the team was disappointed, but would return even more determined next year.

Durham have won all the races on two previous occasions, in 1997 - the first year of the event - and again in 2004.