Oxford’s Lenny Jenkins Reflects on Setbacks, Cambridge’s Seb Benzecry Celebrates Victory

Oxford’s Lenny Jenkins, the seven seat in the men’s boat crew, expressed his disappointment after the 2024 Boat Race, acknowledging that despite a clear plan and strong preparation, things didn’t come together on the day. Jenkins praised his teammates for their dedication, admitting that while Cambridge outperformed them, the team had been battling health issues, including an E. coli strain that affected several of the crew. Jenkins himself had been ill prior to the race, but chose to keep it quiet, feeling it wasn’t the right decision given his diminished capacity. Still, he emphasized that this was not meant to detract from Cambridge’s performance, acknowledging their strength as a team.

On the Cambridge side, president Seb Benzecry shared his emotions after the race, reflecting on his final race with the Cambridge University Boat Club. He described the Oxford crew as “a really classy unit” and emphasized the immense challenge they presented. Despite the difficulty, Cambridge pulled through with a strong performance, crediting Matt Edge for his dynamic rhythm and leadership in the stroke seat, which helped build a significant lead early in the race. Benzecry was proud of his team’s effort, calling it “the most unbelievable feeling” and marking a memorable conclusion to his time with the club.