The University of Cambridge on Saturday won both the men’s and women’s Boat Races, with a member of the losing University of Oxford men’s crew revealing afterward that he and some of his crewmates had been struck down with Escherichia coli just hours before taking the water.
The Light Blues were dominant in both events on a flat River Thames course in sunny conditions, with the men winning for the fifth time in six editions and the women recording their seventh consecutive victory.
Neither the men’s n+or the women’s teams dunked their cox into the Thames as is tradition, after data released earlier this week showed alarming levels of E coli in the water, as sewage spills hit a record high last year.
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Following the race, Oxford rower Leonard Jenkins told the BBC that some of his team mates had been ill with E coli.
“It would be a lot nicer if there wasn’t as much poo in the water. It’s not to take away from Cambridge, as we may not have beaten them even if we were all on top form,” the Oxford No. 7 said.
Cambridge coach Rob Baker said his squad had been healthy.
His men’s team cox, Ed Bracey, said he would not have minded going into the water.
“We’ve been splashing around in that for weeks and weeks,” he said.
However, Baker quickly interjected, noting that the university was heeding to precautionary advice.
“I know he would like to ... but absolutely not,” he said. “We’ll throw a bucket of clean water over your head.”
Additional reporting by Reuters
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