The annual Oxford Cambridge Boat Race is back on Sunday, April 3. As crews prepare to traverse the Thames between Putney and Mortlake, here’s a few things you might not know about one of the world’s most famous boat races…
Photo: The Boat Race
1 The Boat Race is an annual contest between two rowing crews from Oxford and Cambridge universities that takes place along the ‘Championship Course’, a four-and-a-quarter-mile stretch of the River Thames from Putney to Mortlake.
2 The first Boat Race took place in 1829, but a little further down the river in Henley-on-Thames. What began as a challenge between two former school friends has now become an annual event, which is watched by thousands along the banks of the river – and is broadcast to millions more around the world. The second race took place in 1836, which is when it moved to London. The first Women’s Boat Race took place in 1927.
3 This year’s boat races, taking place on Sunday April 3, will be the 167th Men’s Race and the 76th Women’s Race.
4 The current score between the two men’s clubs is Cambridge (racing in light blue) 84 and Oxford (racing in dark blue) 80, with one dead heat. The current score for the women’s boat races is Cambridge 44, Oxford 30.
5 A coin toss determines which side, or station, each team will race on – either Middlesex (Fulham/Chiswick) or Surrey (Putney/Barnes). Each side has its own advantages and disadvantages due to the bends in the river.
6 The women’s race takes places first, at 2.23pm, with the men’s race following second at 3.23pm.
7 The record time over the course in the Boat Race is 14 minutes 12 seconds, which was set by Cambridge, last year, in 2021.
8 Multi-Olympic Gold Medalist Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE, World Champion and Olympic Silver Medallist Cath Bishop and actor/comedian Hugh Laurie are just three of the Boat Races notable alumni.
9 Occasionally boats can sink! Sounds like we’re stating the obvious here but there have been six sinkings in the history of the Boat Race. On 31 March 1912, both boats sank and the race was rescheduled for the following day.
10 The Boat Races are always umpired by an ‘old Blue’, with an ex-Oxford umpire alternating year on year with an ex-Cambridge umpire.
11 The race passes under Hammersmith and Barnes Bridges – but neither crew are permitted to row through the centre arches.
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