Boat Race 2025 LIVE: Cambridge crush Oxford to extend dominance after controversial build-up
Cambridge extended their dominance with a massive victory over Oxford in the men’s race to complete the double
Cambridge celebrated more success over Oxford in the Boat Race by defending their titles in both the men’s and the women’s events.
The Light Blues did the double on the River Thames to extend their dominance, with the men’s crew winning the last three races in a row and the women’s crew unbeaten in the last eight.
There was drama in the women’s race following an early clash which forced the umpire, Sir Matthew Pinsent, to restart the contest. Once resumed, Cambridge won by a comfortable margin.
And there was the same result in the men’s race as Cambridge opened up a sizable lead over Oxford and blew their rivals out of the water over the second half to taste victory for the seventh time in the last nine years.
The build up to this year’s race was surrounded by controversy, with a prolonged row over eligibility rules dominating the headlines after Olympian Tom Ford was banned from taking part for Cambridge.
But it made little difference as Cambridge won again. Follow all the reaction from the Boat Race with our live blog below:
Women's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
BACK UNDERWAY! Sir Matthew Pinsent wondered whether to disqualify Oxford after clashing oars with Cambridge but they survived and the race is resumed.
Women's Boat Race: RACE TO RESTART
Drama. The women’s race will be restarted, with the advantage given to Cambridge by a third of a length. It’s Oxford who looked to be at fault.
Women's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
We are underway! Sir Matthew Pinsent, who is on race umpire duties, waves his red flag and off we go. In 19 minutes or so, we will have a winner.
And it’s Cambridge who have made a flying start, jumping ahead by a seat or two. Oxford are given a warning as they drift to the Cambridge boat.
AND THERE’S A CLASH! OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE TANGLE AND WE ARE STOPPING THE RACE!
Women's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
The crews are in the water and we’re almost ready to go! Oxford have the ‘Surrey’ side as they look to end Cambridge’s dominance in this race.
Starting from Putney Bridge, the race will go past Craven Cottage in the first stretch. The Championship Course is four miles and 374 yards (6.8 km) long, stretching between Putney and Mortlake on the south bank of the River Thames in south west London.
Women's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
Oxford won the toss so picked the slightly more ‘favourable’ line of the River Thames, which takes the shorter route of the second major bend of the race.
Here’s a reminder of the team news:
Oxford Women’s Team
Daniel Orton (Cox), Heidi Long (Stroke), Kyra Delray, Annie Anezakis, Sarah Marshall, Alexia Lowe, Tessa Haining, Lilli Freischem, Sarah Polson (Bow)
Cambridge Women’s Team
Jack Nicholas (Cox), Samy Morton (Stroke), Tash Morrice, Claire Collins, Carys Earl, Annie Wertheimer, Sophia Hahn, Gemma King, Katy Hempson (Bow)
The action will be shown live on the BBC
Boat Race looks to the future on 10-year anniversary of gender equality – but choppy waters lie ahead
Two crews of eight rowing four miles down the Thames. The premise of the Boat Race, contested annually – and fiercely – by eternal rivals Oxford and Cambridge, is very simple. But the race has assumed not just a prized place in the British sporting calendar, but also a place in the national consciousness, like Wimbledon or the Grand National.
Also like the Grand National, the Boat Race is not without its controversies. This year’s race has been dominated by an ugly row over selection that has prevented three PGCE students at Cambridge from taking part, while the spectre of water pollution and sewage in the Thames has once again reared its head. The Boat Race Company – the neutral body which runs the race – has opted for a policy of sweeping both issues under the carpet.
But a long-term issue the Boat Race must grapple with is over its image, as Flo Clifford explains.
Boat Race looks to future after 10 years of equality — but choppy waters lie ahead
Boat Race teams warned against entering the Thames
Campaign group River Action has warned Boat Race winners to "think twice before throwing their cox in the Thames" after again finding concerning levels of e.coli along the course.
The group says it has found, since testing began on March 10, that 29.5% of samples exceeded safe limits for entering the water.
Boat Race organisers agreed quality remains an "ongoing concern" and will once again be referring crews for this Sunday's races to British Rowing guidance to protect the health of the students participating.
Erica Popplewell, River Action's head of communities, said: "Right now, if the stretch of the Thames used for the Boat Race were an official bathing site it would be graded poor, the lowest possible rating.
"The government's own advice for such water is 'do not swim.' So, we strongly suggest that the winning team on Sunday think twice before throwing their cox in the Thames.”
Selection row and water quality fears threaten to overshadow Boat Race
The 2025 Boat Race looks set to take place under a cloud with the row over selection rumbling on but the race’s organisers refusing to be drawn into the affair.
This build up to this year’s races has been overshadowed by a ban on PGCE students, which ruled out three of Cambridge’s Blue Boat crew, Molly Foxell, Kate Crowley, and Matt Heywood. Oxford insisted on the ban under the grounds that the teacher training qualification does not constitute a degree, although students on the course have competed for both sides in previous years without issue.
An independent panel initially imposed the ban, then reversed it when Cambridge appealed, and then re-upheld the ban when Oxford appealed on the grounds that it could not reverse its original decision.
Selection row and water quality fears threaten to overshadow Boat Race
Boat Race: The Cambridge men's crew
The Cambridge men’s team doesn’t have the same international pedigree as their opposition number but makes up for it in experience, with 30-year-old James Robson - himself a spare for GB in Paris - the veteran of the day. The squad also includes Noam Mouelle and Luca Ferraro, both two-time Boat Race winners with Cambridge, and Douwe de Graaf, a member of GB’s development squad for LA 2028.
Cambridge Men’s Team
- Ollie Boyne (Cox)
- Douwe de Graaf (Stroke)
- Simon Hatcher
- James Robson
- George Bourne
- Gabriel Mahler
- Luke Beever
- Noam Mouelle
- Luca Ferraro (Bow)
Boat Race: Meet the Oxford men's team
The Oxford men’s team is stacked with former Olympians: president and Olympic champion Tom Mackintosh, who won gold for New Zealand in the men’s eight in Tokyo 2020; Nico Kohl, a member of the Italy squad in Paris 2024; and American Nick Rusher, who won bronze in the men’s eight last summer and whose parents - who met on the national team - and sister have all competed in the Games.
Oxford Men’s Team
- Tobias Bernard (Cox)
- Nico Kohl (Stroke)
- Nick Rusher
- Tom Mackintosh
- Tass von Mueller
- James Doran
- Felix Rawlinson
- Will O’Connell
- Tom Sharrock (Bow)
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