The Boat Race 2018 - as it happened: Cambridge claim clean sweep across men and women's races

Re-live all the action from Saturday's races

Oxford v Cambridge: The Boat Race in numbers

Oxford and Cambridge universities go toe to toe and oar to oar this weekend in the men and women’s annual Boat Race.

All eyes will be on the River Thames once again as the Light Blues look to seek revenge for last year’s defeat and overturn their rivals’ recent dominance. Oxford have won four of the past five men’s races and are close to catching Cambridge in the overall standings (82-80).

In the women’s event, Cambridge won in record time last year after Oxford’s poor start to extend their head-to-head lead to 42-30.

More than 250,000 people are expected to take to the banks of the River Thames to watch the two teams compete - making this one of the biggest spectator events of the British sporting calendar.

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When is it?

The 164th Boat Race takes place on Saturday 24 March.

What time do the races start?

The women's race gets under way at 4.31pm while the men's race starts just over an hour later at 5.32pm.

Oxford claimed victory in last year's race (Getty)

Where can I watch the Boat Race?

BBC 1 will be broadcasting both events. Live coverage starts at 3.50pm on the day.

Odds:

Oxford: 81/50

Cambridge: 2/5

Dead heat: 50/1

Key Points

• Cambridge win the women's race in 19:10 mins
• Cambridge win the men's race in 17:50 mins
• Overall standings: Cambridge Men 83-80 Oxford Men; Cambridge Women 43-30 Oxford Women

[24 March 2018 15:55 · Samuel Lovett]

Don your wellies, top up your pimms/grab yourself another can of carling (whatever tickles your fancy) and get comfy as we bring you all the coverage for the 2018 Boat Race.

Having both qualified for the final for the 164th year running*, Oxford vs Cambridge go head to head on the Thames later this afternoon in a battle of brawn, stamina and guts.

The weather is distinctively rubbish/British, which could make for some choppy conditions out there on the Thames. Aren't they a brave bunch.

The women's kicks off around 4.30pm, followed by the men's an hour later. We'll have all the build-up as well as stroke-by-stroke coverage for both races.

Don't. Touch. That. Dial.

(*This is a joke.)

[24 March 2018 16:06 · Samuel Lovett]

So, Cambridge Women won this afternoon's coin toss and picked the Surrey side for their race meaning they'll have the advantage when taking on the big left bend of the Thames.

[24 March 2018 16:11 · Samuel Lovett]

It's a grand old tradition but, for many, the Boat Race is a symbol of the upper class and a reminder of rowing's elite undertones. Here, Sean O'Grady outlines his hatred for the yearly sporting event.

Don't shoot the messenger.

[24 March 2018 16:13 · Samuel Lovett]

In the interest of fairness, here's the other side of the argument put forward by Will Gore...

[24 March 2018 16:17 · Samuel Lovett]

Boats not your thing? What about goats? 

Say no more, friends, for yes, there is in indeed an Oxford vs Cambridge Goat Race to get stuck in to.

What is it, then? "Coinciding with the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race, two goats (one representing Oxford and one representing Cambridge) go head to head - just a stone's throw from the Thames, at Spitalfields City Farm."

It's quite literally what it says on the tin. Enjoy.

[24 March 2018 16:19 · Samuel Lovett]

Back to more pressing matters, here are the women's crews:

Oxford Bow: Renee Koolschijn 2: Katherine Erickson 3: Juliette Perry 4: Alice Roberts 5: Morgan McGovern 6: Sarah Kushma 7: Abigail Killen Stroke: Beth Bridgman Cox: Jessica Buck

Cambridge Bow: Tricia Smith 2: Imogen Grant 3: Kelsey Barolak 4: Thea Zabell 5: Paula Wesselmann 6: Alice White 7: Myriam Goudet-Boukhatmi Stroke: Olivia Coffey Cox: Sophie Shapter

[24 March 2018 16:29 · Samuel Lovett]

Some quick background before the race kicks off (just two minutes to go!):

• The Boat Race course, known as the Championship Course is 4 miles, 374 yards or 6.8 Km long. It stretches between Putney and Mortlake on the River Thames in South West London.
• The only draw came in the 1877 race with a dead heat finish. 
• 2003 was the closest race in modern history, with Oxford winning by just one foot.
• Hugh Laurie rowed for Cambridge in the 1980 race. Oxford won by a canvas.
• In 2015, the women’s race was finally relocated to the same stretch of water as men's. They first raced against one another in 1927.
• The tradition dates back to 1845 when, after 15 years of trial runs and debate over the best location on the Thames, the crews from Oxford and Cambridge first raced the four-and-a-bit miles from Putney to Mortlake.

[24 March 2018 16:30 · Samuel Lovett]

What about the weather? I'm glad you asked. Rain is forecast for later on but it's nothing serious to worry about and there's only a light wind in the air to take into consideration.

[24 March 2018 16:31 · Samuel Lovett]

Okay, we're moments away...

[24 March 2018 16:31 · Samuel Lovett]

And they're off! Here we go!