Latest news with #ChampionshipCourse
The Independent
13-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Cambridge complete Boat Race clean sweep as men's team claim emphatic victory
Cambridge completed a clean sweep on the Thames with victories in the men's, women's and both reserve Boat Races. It was expected to be a tight battle in the 170th men's edition, but instead the light blue boat built up an early lead and never looked back, shocking an Oxford boat stacked with several Olympians. Cambridge made it eight straight wins in the 79th women's competition, also the 10th anniversary of the men's and women's races taking place on the traditional 6.8-kilometre Championship Course. It was an event once again overshadowed by controversy in the build-up after the enforcement of rules preventing PGCE students taking part meant three Cambridge rowers were unable to participate. Like in 2024, there were also worries about water quality after concerning levels of the E. coli bacteria were found along the course in the weeks leading up to the event. Both Oxford's men and women won their coin tosses and elected to start at the Surrey station, and the sunny conditions for the latter had turned overcast by the time the men began just under 10 minutes after its scheduled 14:21 start to clear debris from the course. It was neck-and-neck at the start and Cambridge were the subjects of a few early warnings from umpire Sarah Winckless, who became the first woman to umpire the men's race on the Championship Course after also overseeing it when it moved to the Great River Ouse in 2021. But Cambridge pulled out to a lead of just under two seconds, and extended their advantage as they crossed under the Hammersmith Bridge just over four seconds ahead. They continued to look loose and in control as they built up a considerable advantage of more than 12 seconds at the Barnes Bridge before pulling well clear to claim a comfortable win. The women's race was umpired by Sir Matthew Pinsent, who issued his first warning to Oxford less than a minute in and had a huge early decision to make after the oars clashed within the first two minutes. It was a move initiated by Oxford cox Daniel Orton, and for a brief moment it looked like Pinsent was contemplating disqualifying the dark blue boat. Instead the four-time Olympic champion elected for a restart, handing Cambridge – who had been out in front – a compensatory advantage a one-third of a length advantage. The light blue boat began to pull ahead under the Hammersmith Bridge, maintaining a significant gap by the halfway point and crossed the Chiswick Steps with an advantage of just over six seconds, extended to 7.72 seconds by the time they crossed the finish. Pinsent told the BBC: 'The clash was heavy enough that it was going to stop the race. There are a range of options you've got at that moment. You could DQ someone straight away, you can do a restart. '(Disqualification) pops into your mind, but you also can allow after a restart to see whether it affected the outcome of the race, and obviously in my opinion it did not affect the outcome of that race, and that's what is going on in my head now.'
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oxford University teams win Boat Race coin tosses vs Cambridge
Both the men's and women's Oxford University teams have won the Boat Race coin tosses against Cambridge. The 170th edition of the men's Boat Race takes place later today at 2.21pm on the River Thames in London. Oxford is set to battle it out with Cambridge in the elite event once again, with the women's race starting at 1.21pm. READ MORE: Oxford University's Emma Watson left staff 'breathless' in shop visit Oxford Women win the toss and have selected Surrey 🪙 #TheBoatRace — The Boat Race (@theboatrace) April 13, 2025 Cambridge has dominated both the men's and women's races in recent years – winning seven consecutive women's titles and five of the past six men's. Oxford has had a successful start today (Sunday, April 13) though as both the men's and women's teams won their respective coin tosses. It will be held on the River Thames, with the 4.25-mile Championship Course stretching nearly seven kilometres from Putney to Mortlake. For those wanting to watch the elite action, all races will be shown on BBC One.
The Independent
11-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Heidi Long dares young girls to dream as she prepares for Boat Race
British Olympic bronze medallist Heidi Long is daring girls to dream when they watch her tear down the Thames in the Boat Race. The 28-year-old is set to stroke Oxford's dark blue boat on Sunday, the 10th anniversary of the men's and women's events both taking place on the historic 6.8-kilometre Championship Course. Long, who was on the podium last summer in Paris with Team GB's women's eights, remembers sitting on the London river's bank at a younger age, not even noticing the lack of female crews because the absence back then felt 'so normal'. 'I think the fact that women fought for this to be an opportunity, and that for us to be included without a second glance is really special to be a part of,' Long told the PA news agency. 'I hope that we create something and encourage girls of the future. I remember when I first watched the Boat Race, and it was just the men's race, so to now, I never knew that would be possible. 'So now to be out there, racing, hopefully we can inspire the next group of young girls who are out there, who will hopefully be watching and cheering on, and in 10 years time they will be in our seats, racing and competing on an equal playing field.' Oxford won the first women's edition on the Thames in 2015, highlighted by a devastating sprint at the Surrey bend that that led to them crossing the finish line six-and-a-half lengths ahead of their Cambridge rivals, with about 4.8 million people watching on the BBC. A decade later, Long and her crew-mates in the dark blue boat will be in the hunt for Oxford's first women's trophy since 2016 – and a third on the Thames – having been beaten by seven lengths last year. Long said: 'I remember we would watch the Boat Race (before) and I remember there not being many women involved, but I didn't notice that that was a bad thing. 'It was so normal that women weren't given the same platform, so I didn't notice that as anything different. Now this feels like the new norm. 'Women's and men's sports should be equal, and to have the opportunity to speak with everyone, and race on the same day with the same coverage is really special.' Long's late father Keith was so convinced his daughter would be an Olympian last summer he bought a block of tickets to events well before he knew she was even competing. He also booked accommodation in Paris, correctly anticipating a large travelling party, and left the log-ins for friends and family in one of his final notes before he passed away from cancer in 2023. 'That confidence and who I am it really wouldn't be without him,' added Long. 'I don't really hear much when I'm rowing, apart from the cox. 'I drown everything out, even at the Olympic Games, everyone warns you the last 500 metres will be the loudest thing. You can't hear anything. 'There are two people I can hear when I'm rowing. One is one of my brothers, and the other is my dad, so I'll really miss his voice on the bank (at the Boat Race). 'There's going to be noise, but he'd be one of the only people I'd hear.'
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
The Boat Race 2025 - How to watch Oxford v Cambridge on TV and iPlayer and follow all the action across the BBC
The banks of the River Thames will be packed this weekend as thousands of spectators come out to watch one of the world's most historic sporting fixtures as rowing crews from Oxford and Cambridge Universities compete once again. Cambridge have had the upper hand over Oxford for some time now in both the Men's and Women's races, what can the dark blue crews do this year to turn the tide? Guests including Olympic gold medallist Imogen Grant and Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan will join Clare Balding, Rishi Persad and Qasa Alom on the show and there's an exclusive film featuring husband and wife team Steve Backshall and Helen Glover exploring the environmental state of play of the capital's river. Both teams will race along the Championship Course, starting from Putney in South West London. If you're not sure who's who, Oxford traditionally wear dark blue while Cambridge sport lighter colours. Here's how you can watch and follow all the action across the BBC. When is The Boat Race 2025? The Boat Race 2025 takes place on Sunday 13 April, with coverage starting on BBC One from 12.20pm. How to watch The Boat Race 2025 Enjoy live coverage across BBC iPlayer, BBC One and the BBC Sport website and app from 12.20pm on Sunday 13 April. The 79th Women's Boat Race begins at 1.21pm, followed by the 170th Men's Boat Race at 2.21pm.
