Blondie have won the Women's Reserve Race, beating Osiris by 9 lengths in a contest that turned messy once the crews hit rough water past Hammersmith.
Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey, leaving Blondie on the Middlesex station and Osiris on Surrey.
Both crews were level off the start and stayed that way along the Putney embankment, with Blondie rating the higher of the two. Approaching Fulham Pier, Blondie began to pull clear. The umpire warned the crew about their line around this point.
By the Mile post the gap was about a length. Osiris held Blondie at that distance right through to Hammersmith.
Beyond the bridge the river turned choppy, and a strong headwind made conditions tough for both crews.
Blondie increased their lead through the rough water, opening clear water between themselves and their rivals. The two crews took contrasting lines through the chop, at one stage briefly swapping stations, boats crabbing sideways as the wind caught the blades.
Coming past Chiswick Pier, both boats moved towards the Middlesex station, seeking calmer water out of the stream. Blondie kept building their lead.
By Barnes Bridge the margin had grown to around 6 lengths.
Blondie pushed on through the closing stages to win by 9 lengths.
