A peak of 4.4 million viewers in the UK watched ITV Sport’s coverage of The 153rd Boat Race, sponsored by Xchanging and won by Cambridge University by one and a quarter lengths in a time of 17 minutes, 49 seconds. This was a 41 percent share of the available television audience. The race itself averaged 4.1 million viewers.

ITV’s Director of News and Sport, Mark Sharman said: “We’re delighted that 4.4 million people tuned in to watch our coverage of the Boat Race on a sunny, Easter Saturday within a very busy sporting period.”

Many spectators took advantage of that sunny weather to head for the Thames in London and watch the Race, swelling the crowd beyond the normal.

Both crews were roared on from the riverbanks where the crowd created a tunnel of noise all the way along the course.