LONDON, April 5: Oxford must defy history if they are to beat their old rivals Cambridge on Sunday in the 149th edition of the annual race between England’s oldest universities.

Cambridge’s crew is more than 15 pounds (6.8 kg) a man heavier than Oxford’s and that kind of disadvantage has never before been overcome since the first race took place in 1829.

Conditions on the Thames have fluctuated between calm and very choppy this week, interfering with both teams’ training and increasing the uncertainty over the outcome.

Cambridge are hoping the return to their crew of giant German Tim Wooge will ensure they capitalise on their weight advantage.

Wooge, who stands a towering 6’7” (2.00m) tall and weighs in at a muscle-packed 222 pounds (100kg), is aiming for his third success in the Light Blue boat and has yet to taste defeat.

The race is held over a four miles and 374 yards stretch of the Thames with the start near Putney Bridge and the finish at Mortlake, near to Chiswick bridge.

Cambridge has the edge historically with 77 wins to Oxford’s 70 and also holds the course record of 16min 19sec, which was set in 1998.

The 1877 race ended in a dead heat, a possibility that has been virtually ruled out with the advent of televised races.

The biggest winning margin (20 lengths) was posted by Cambridge in 1900 while the closest races with the exception of the dead heat were Oxford’s 1952 and 1980 victories, both by a matter of four feet.

There have been three sinkings: Cambridge in 1859 and 1978 and Oxford in 1925.—AFP