On a warm day which left the waters of the Tideway glittering in the sunshine, Oxford had their final race preparation before The Boat Race in two weeks’ time. The women raced Leander Club while the men took on London Rowing Club.

Leander sent a strong women’s crew, star-studded with development GB athletes and established age-group internationals. Oxford were there to test against one of the best women’s eights in the country, which had Olympic champion Hannah Scott sat at 4.

Oxford’s Blue Boat, announced at Battersea Power Station last week, has Olympian Heidi Long and GB international Kyra Delray as the stern pair, backed up by President Annie Anezakis at 6.

The first race, with Oxford on the Surrey (south) side, saw Leander show their superior base pace to beat the Dark Blues to Hammersmith Bridge by about a length and a quarter. The second race, around the top of the tight Hammersmith bend to the bandstand, saw a similar margin of victory. The final piece ran right to the finish line but Oxford impressed with their consistent pace and rhythm, clinging on to Leander throughout.

The final race saw the crews come together to fight for the stream on the Championship Course round the final Barnes bend into the University Stone on the bank. The Oxford crew stayed on Surrey, giving them the disadvantage on the outside of the bend, but reduced the margin to about a length and a foot. Commentators Ella Stadler and Dave Ambler agreed the OUBC women showed tenacity, consistency and positivity in their final hit-out before The Boat Race on 13 April.

Oxford men were the next up. Italian Olympian Niko Kohl has the stroke seat with Tom Mackintosh, President, sat at 6 just like his female counterpart. In a series of shorter races with only a brief segment of light rowing in between, it was a testing day for the men in Dark Blue.

The water had become much choppier by the time the men raced and although being led slightly off the start, Oxford on Middlesex steadily rowed through London RC by the end of the first race. Umpire Sarah Winckless was kept very busy with coxes jostling for position in the choppy and breezy conditions. Throughout the interval pieces, OUBC took each of them by varying margins, but each race was hard-fought with Oxford probably demonstrating better speed and longevity as the racing went on. In the final piece, Umpire Winckless made the crews keep apart right up to the finish line even as Oxford crossed the finish line two lengths ahead.

Both crews will have taken positives out of the day. Clashing blades, rough water and opponents so close you can hear them breathing: sounds like ideal preparation for for The Boat Race?