Cambridge carried a traditional Maori carving or "Teka" on board a gift from the local community - when they faced Waikato University, of New Zealand, in early September but the local spirits couldn’t prevent them from defeat to the hosts - who thus avenged Cambridge’s victory of two years’ ago in the Harry Mahon Trophy.

Waikato University captain Andrew McCowan promptly pronounced it the "best Great Race win yet". He is the only person to row in every one of the five races up the Waikato River.

The Waikato eight got a great start to take a lead they never looked like relinquishing along the 4.9km course, winning by a comfortable four boat lengths on Saturday to go 2-1 up against Cambridge crews.

For Waikato it was sweet revenge after Cambridge became the first and only crew to defeat them in the Harry Mahon Trophy two years ago. "This is probably the best because Cambridge are the only ones who have beaten us and they brought over a strong crew," McCowan said. "It was great."

"Waikato University did a great job at the start," Cambridge captain and German international Sebastian Thormann said. "The start is so important. "But I think there should have been a more direct command from outside saying `I want the boats here’ and that would have taken away some of the tension. "But we lost . . . they did a perfect job."

Cambridge crossed the river at the half-way point but Waikato also moved across to the west bank to cover them.

As the race wore on, Cambridge tried the unorthodox by heading back to the east bank just before the Claudelands Bridge and appeared to cut into Waikato’s lead despite rowing into a stronger current.

However, Waikato were able to hold them off. "We were a bit worried for a little while," McCowan said. "It was a good option for them but we just wanted to hold them and knew we were fit enough to do it."