OXFORD extended their dominance over Cambridge with a 12th victory in 16 years on a landmark day for the women's boat race.

For the first time in 88 years the women's race was staged on the famous Tideway course that for so long had been the sole preserve of the men.

Hot favourites Oxford romped to a comfortable victory by six and a half lengths, as the women struck a telling blow for sporting equality, racing the same championship course and on the same day as the men.

Oxford women's president Anastasia Chitty hailed the victory as a special moment for her crew, but also for rowing and sporting equality overall.

"It's an amazing moment," Chitty told BBC Sport. "To pull something off like that is amazing.

"To row on the same stage as the men, there were so many women before us who have never had this opportunity and it's extremely humbling.

"We started moving away early on and kept ourselves ahead."

As the most decorated Olympic athlete ever to race in either boat race, Oxford stroke Caryn Davies underlined the quality on display in the women's contest.

The 32-year-old United States Olympics team star boasts silver at Athens and gold medals at Beijing and London in the women's eight - and now a boat race victory to boot.

"I think that's harder I've got to be honest," Davies told BBC Sport when asked how the boat race compared to Olympic competition.

"There was almost three times as long to suffer. But there's always less suffering when you win!

"I'm just proud and honoured to have such attention.

"It shows how excited people are and I'm so glad we can be role models to young women everywhere."