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:
Cambridge coach Rob Baker hails ‘best crew’ of career after Boat Race success
Coach Rob Baker hailed the “best crew” of his Cambridge career after they overcame controversy and secured a dominant victory in the 170th men’s Boat Race.
It was a clean sweep for the light blues, who also secured wins in the women’s and reserve races, Baker’s men claiming the trophy for a third-straight year by a margin of five-and-a-half lengths.
Build-up was dominated by an eligibility row that resulted in 2024 British Olympic gold medallist Tom Ford and former under-23 world champion Matt Heywood ruled out of competing for Cambridge for separate reasons alongside two potential members of the women’s crew.
Cambridge coach Rob Baker hails ‘best crew’ of career after Boat Race success
Moment big clash halts Oxford vs Cambridge Women’s Boat Race
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.
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."
Cambridge complete Boat Race clean sweep with 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.
Cambridge complete Boat Race clean sweep with emphatic victory
Emotional scenes for ineligible Cambridge rower
Matt Heywood was one of the three Cambridge rowers who were banned from taking part in the Boat Race after it was ruled that his postgraduate teaching course — PGCE — which Oxford argued was a certificate and not a degree.
Heywood is in floods of tears as he embraces his victorious Cambridge team-mates.
A former under-23 world champion, Heywood said on social media last month that the decision didn’t align with the “values of sportsmanship or race spirit that I have known in rowing."
He added he felt “disheartened by the wider implications of this decision on my future vocation.”
Joy for Cambridge at Mortlake
A wonderful feeling for the Cambridge crew to step onto dry land and be embraced by the women’s team. There are a lot of emotional members from Cambridge on a memorable day.
Cambridge do the double over Oxford again
Three in a row for Cambridge in the men’s Boat Race - and seven in nine years.
Eight in a row for Cambridge in the women’s race. Utter dominance.
Cambridge crush Oxford to win men's Boat Race
A huge margin of victory for Cambridge! The Light Blues win by more than 16 seconds and splash the water in delight.
No one saw a margin of victory like that coming.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
This will be a painful day for the Oxford crew, who are visibly struggling in the trailing boat and are going to be absolutely crushed in the 170th Boat Race.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
This is looking very good for Cambridge. As we pass the Chiswick Steps, it is Cambridge who are blowing Oxford out of the water.
This is not a race.
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