Croatian oarsman Ante Kusurin said his Dark Blue crew gave it their all for the four and a quarter miles of the 153rd Boat Race, sponsored by Xchanging.

“We died there, we left our hearts out there,” said the Oxford stroke.

“We fought to the end and I’m proud of the guys. Cambridge had a great race and I would like to congratulate them for that.

“We did whatever we could,” he added.

Cambridge ran out winners by one and a quarter lengths.