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 16:55 · Samuel Lovett]

Cambridge's time to follow shortly...

[24 March 2018 16:55 · Samuel Lovett]

19.10 minutes - that was Cambridge's final time. Not enough to beat their record from last year but yet another thumping victory.

[24 March 2018 16:57 · Samuel Lovett]

[24 March 2018 17:02 · Samuel Lovett]

Contrasting scenes in the wake of the race. Oxford have formed a tight huddle on the water's edge as they share in the pain of defeat while Cambridge's rowers are striking a more jubilant tone, dancing and hugging one another.

Katherine Erickson, president of Oxford Women, said she knew the race would be a tough one but she's "very proud" of her team regardless.

[24 March 2018 17:09 · Samuel Lovett]

With the winners' ceremony over and done with, attention now turns to the men's race which gets under way at 5.32pm. Make sure to stay tuned!

[24 March 2018 17:14 · Samuel Lovett]

Here's the moment of victory for Cambridge Women:

[24 March 2018 17:15 · Samuel Lovett]

Cambridge won the coin's toss and opted for the Surrey station. Obviously.

[24 March 2018 17:23 · Samuel Lovett]

Unlike with the women's race, the overall standings in the men's Boat Race is much closer. Cambridge have won 82 races to Oxford's 80.

Oxford's crew has chopped and changed in recent weeks, with new members being drafted in at the 11th hour, meaning Cambridge are favourites for this year's race. After last year's defeat, they'll be particularly eager to claim victory today.

[24 March 2018 17:24 · Samuel Lovett]

Here are the men's crews:

Oxford: Claas Mertes (bow), Vassilis Ragoussis, Will Cahill, Anders Weiss, Will Geffen, Benedict Aldous, Iain Mandale, Felix Drinkall (stroke), Zachary Thomas Johnson (cox).

Cambridge: Charles Fisher (bow), Patrick Elwood, James Letten, Dara Alizadeh, Spencer Furey, Finn Meeks, Rob Hurn, Freddie Davidson (stroke), Hugo Ramambason (cox).

[24 March 2018 17:28 · Samuel Lovett]

Okay we're moments away from the men's race! Stay tuned!