LONDON -- It's one of the oldest sporting events in England, and Saturday's Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities was one of the most historic.
For the first time, the women's Boat Race took place on the same day and the same course as the men's race, with Oxford proving the victor.
Oxford lift the trophy presented by Sir Steve Redgrave pic.twitter.com/3poSFOGWR9— The Boat Races (@theboatraces) April 11, 2015
Female crews from the two universities rowed the 4-mile-long course upstream from Putney and Mortlake, with the race also being broadcast live on BBC television for the first time.
TV presenter Clare Balding, a long-time advocate of gender equality in sport, hosted coverage of the race. Balding chose to skip presenting one of the biggest sporting events on the British calendar, the Aintree Grand National, which she has presented since 1997.
Great day for gender equality! #boatrace2015 pic.twitter.com/dOhfguQW8x— Keela Shackell-Smith (@KeelaShackell) April 11, 2015
One of last bastions of gender inequality in sport ended today-Women's Boat Race held on the same course and day as the men's #ThisGirlCan— Janey M (@janeybird65) April 11, 2015
Incredible scenes with womens boat race on the historic course. Shows quality sport is worth watching whatever the gender #ThisGirlCan— Kevin Maye (@donnyboy71) April 11, 2015
Commiserations to Cambridge women's boat, but the result didn't matter today - you're already made history. #boatrace2015 @theboatraces— Homerton College (@HomertonCollege) April 11, 2015
"This is not just about a boat race," Christine Wilson, coach of Oxford's women's team, said ahead of the race. "This is about changing society's perspectives."
The first women's Boat Race was staged in 1927, and races have been held on a straight, calmer 1.2-mile strip of the Thames at nearby Henley. Traditionally, the women's races have taken place a week before the men's race and without any sponsorship, but that changed after Newton Investment Management offered a modest deal to the fund the team.
A good day for women's sport- today is the first time the @NewtonIM women's race and the @BNYMellonRaces to be held together on the tideway— Helen Glover (@Helenglovergb) April 11, 2015
Cambridge leads the women's series 40-29, but Oxford was the favourite this year after winning by four lengths in 2014.
If Oxford's crew members needed a reminder of the challenge facing them on Saturday, it came last week when a lifeboat crew rescued the team from the Thames, after three successive waves poured water into their boat.
Oxford's crew, which is 15.9 pounds (7.2 kilograms) lighter, includes Caryn Davies, a two-time Olympic gold medalist for the United States in the women's eight. With an Olympic silver medal also in her collection, Davies is the most decorated Olympian ever to race in either the men's or women's event and the oldest rower in either race at 32.
"The Tideway can be tempestuous, fickle and a challenge for the most experienced navigators, which is why we regard the river as the other competitor in the Boat Race," Oxford coach Wilson said.
Almost 300,000 people were expected to turn out to watch the two races along the Thames, according to BBC Sport before the event.
UPDATED 5.45 p.m. GMT to reflect the result of the race.