Oxford surge to Boat Race win

London - Favourites Oxford surged to victory over Cambridge in the 159th Boat Race on Sunday, a year after the 2012 event had been controversially disrupted by a protestor.

Last year's race, won by Cambridge, had to be restarted after Australian Trenton Oldfield swam into the path of the two boats in a protest against elitism and government cuts.

He was released from prison in December after serving seven weeks of a six-month sentence for causing a public nuisance.

Amid tightened security on the River Thames, Oxford powered home to win the 4.2-mile (6.8km) race by a length and a half, trimming Cambridge's overall lead in the event to 81-77.

Oxford and Cambridge, Britain's two oldest universities, contested their first race in 1829 and have competed against each other every year since 1856, barring years interrupted by war.