ITV’s coverage of the 2006 Boat Race has scooped two Royal Television Society Awards. The 2006 Race Coverage took the “Best Live Outside Broadcast” Award whilst Ned Boulting and Phil Heslop’s “Supersize Me” feature won the “Best Sports Feature” Award.

During the latter feature, reporter Boulting tried to match mouthful by mouthful the level of food consumed by twice Boat Race Blue Thorsten Engelmann in one day. With rowers tucking away more than 6000 calories a day, needless to say that Boulting struggled. The result, though, was a humorous piece which the layman and the rowing enthusiast could enjoy in equal measures.

ITV’s main Boat Race programme in 2006 drew praise from the judges. The jury said that the winning coverage was “well thought out and well produced and got under the skin of the competing crews. The use of virtual technology, flawless race direction, and perceptive and entertaining commentary really made you care about the event”.

The Boat Race beat off two other nominees to win the coveted prize – the BBC’s Open Golf coverage and ITV’s “Big Fight Live”.