Rowing: Ailing Mahon gets best present

LONDON - Cambridge University gave their cancer-stricken New Zealand-born coach Harry Mahon a boost yesterday, sweeping away Oxford to win England's famous Boat Race.

The 59-year-old Mahon, who is Cambridge's finishing coach, has bowel cancer that has spread to his liver.

Medical specialists did not expect him to see the last two races between the elite English universities on the Thames River.

After Oxford last year broke a streak of seven Mahon-influenced Cambridge wins, the light blues were determined to win the 147th race for the ailing New Zealander.

The race began controversially when the two crews clashed oars near the start and umpire Rupert Obholzer called a restart.

Using their relaxed Mahon-coached style to full effect, Cambridge opened up a seven-second lead after six minutes, finishing in 19m 59s to seal victory.

For Mahon and Cambridge captain Kieran West it marked an amazing double - victory came exactly six months to the day they were part of Great Britain's Olympic eights gold medal at the Sydney Games.

Mahon has had a tumour removed, has had several crises that took him close to death, and the further complication of a blood clot in his portal vein.

A legendary figure in rowing, he coached New Zealand crews to two gold, a silver, and a bronze at world championships.

At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, he guided the New Zealand women's coxless pair to the bronze medal and the Swiss men to a silver in the double sculls.

The Sunday Times newspaper has said the OBE holder has a public profile "between low and invisible, preferring influence to fame."

But the world's best oarsmen call him a guru and legend.

When he was headhunted from Switzerland by Cambridge in 1992, Oxford had won 16 of the previous 17 races.

After Mahon taught Cambridge a new style, "long strokes and soft front entry," they won seven consecutive boat races from 1993, breaking most records.

- NZPA