IT DID not seem possible after the epic event of 2002 that this year’s Boat Race could produce a confrontation of equal distinction. However, two outstanding crews yesterday produced the closest finish in the history of the race, which stretches back, through so many controversies and unforgettable struggles, to 1829.

When the two eights crossed the line at Mortlake, neither began rejoicing because neither they, nor Boris Rankov, who had umpired with consistent commonsense over the four miles 374 yards, knew who had won. He simply spread his arms wide and shrugged his shoulders. He then turned with disbelief at the extraordinary performance he had witnessed as he waited for Ben Kent, the finish judge, to give his verdict to him by radio.

For the first time in history, as the boats drifted under Chiswick Bridge, there was no immediate celebration. Instead the oarsmen sprawled exhausted, several vomiting over the side from the intensity of the sustained effort, which had mounted to a climax over the last half-mile. After a pause of about 30 seconds, Rankov announced that Oxford had won by one foot, the closest margin in all the 149 races. Both crews were officially timed in 18min 06sec.

There was a dead heat in 1877. However, on that occasion Oxford were actually ahead by five or six feet, depending on which history you read, and the dead heat was given, with gentlemanly consideration, because of the closeness of the finish.

This year provided a veritable race of records. Two pairs of brothers, the Smiths and the Livingstons, all originally from Hampton School, representing rival universities. The last time this occurred with just one pair of brothers representing different crews was in 1900. Ben Smith came in as bow in the Cambridge crew after Wayne Pommen broke his left wrist in a collision with another boat on Friday.

Oxford, wonderfully well stroked for the second successive year by Matt Smith, their president, also achieved what no other eight in history had done by overcoming a record average weight disadvantage of 157/8lb per man. Smith, only 12 stone himself, said afterwards: “We have got an awesome bunch of guys in this squad, people who are quite used to beating up bigger guys all their lives. But I have such respect for Cambridge.”

After Oxford had been in the lead early on, Cambridge, on the Surrey station, came back near Hammersmith. However, on the long bend in their favour, Cambridge found Oxford clinging on and even taking the lead. Then, after Barnes Bridge, Cambridge mounted a ferocious final attack, only just failing to catch their opponents at the finish. The loss of Pommen must have psychologically unsettled their crew.

Tim Wooge, the Cambridge president, said with masterly understatement: “Friday was interesting. We had gone all through the different scenarios with our sports psychologist but that was one thing we did not envisage. However, I felt we dealt with it quite well.

“It was difficult for Goldie (the Cambridge reserve crew, who won yesterday) to step up to the plate when they lost their stroke Ben Smith to replace Wayne Pommen. However, they did so and so did we. Perhaps we could have moved it on a bit when the Surrey bend was in our favour and if the course had been ten metres longer perhaps we could have caught them. However, Oxford were quicker over the distance. It was a gutsy row.”

Pommen, the Canadian, was at Putney as the crew embarked to hold the bow of the Cambridge boat, from which he was so cruelly deprived of a place, shouting “Go boys” as they slipped away from the shore.

There was also the mixed feelings of the parents of the two pairs of brothers, delighted for one of of their sons, comforting to the other. After the crews came ashore there was emotion everywhere, exhausted and tearful brothers falling into each others’ arms and the parents looking on with a mixture of pride and distress.

John Livingston, the father of James and David, said: “I felt for James, particularly after losing so narrowly last year. But it was fantastic for the clubs and for the race itself.”

James said: “Well, we nearly got the dead heat Mum wanted. I had no idea at the end whether we had won. It was the worst margin to lose by. I just wish I could stop being in these epic races.”

Steve Royle, the Oxford director of rowing, pointed to the reason why the race is now proving so close so often. “I put it down to the rowing programmes at both the universities. We are setting new standards. The problem is how we are to do it next year. But we will have to do it.”