Rower basks in Boat Race win

A Shropshire rower today said he was "basking in the glow" of one of the best days of his life after helping his team win the 156th Boat Race.

Fred Gill, of Shrewsbury, upset the odds by coming from behind with his Cambridge side to beat Oxford and win Saturday's race.

The 24-year-old, who is a member of Pengwern Boat Club, played an important role in the stroke seat as the light blues stormed from behind to take the race for the first time in three years.

Mr Gill said: "I am just enjoying every minute of this, just basking in the glow of what every man in that boat has achieved.

"We worked so hard for this and it means a lot that the people of Shropshire were behind me.

"It was so painful, but so worth it now. People are congratulating me all the time and the phone hasn't stopped ringing.

"Oxford had their game plan and stuck to it, but I think our coaches knew we had it won a long way out, we had been coached superbly and were ready.

"We were two very even crews, but we managed to steal the advantage.It was just incredible, I am beaming."

ProudMr Gill's family said they were left speechless by the race and spent the rest of the weekend celebrating.

A statement on behalf of the family, said: "We are enormously proud of Fred and the extremely important role he played in helping Cambridge record this tremendous win.

"We spent the afternoon with tears rolling down our faces and we are on top of the world following one of the best day's in our lives."

Oxford, on the favoured Surrey side, made a strong start to the race and looked set to make it three wins in a row.

But Cambridge stayed in contention and made their move after Chiswick Steps, going on to win by one-and-a-half lengths in 17 minutes and 35 seconds.

Cambridge president Deaglan McEachern said he felt victory was secure just after Hammersmith, with his crew still in touch.

He said: "Our plan was to choose Surrey so it was probably better that we lost the toss.

"We proved that we were a tough crew out there."