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Articles by Annie Vernon
Head of the Charles 2026
Words: Annie Vernon The 2026 Head of the Charles Regatta took place in Boston, Massachusetts, from 16–18 October, bringing Oxford and Cambridge crews to one of the biggest events in international university rowing. The 4,702-metre course on the Charles River tests crews’ speed, steering and tactical judgement, with tight bends and seven bridges adding to the challenge.
CHANEL and The Boat Race announce the creation of new trophies for The CHANEL J12 Boat Race, celebrating 100 years of women’s racing
2027 marks the third year of The CHANEL J12 Boat Race, with the House as the first Title Sponsor and Official Timekeeping Partner of the historic Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge that takes place annually on the River Thames. It is also a year of two milestones: the Centenary of the first Women’s Race in 1927, and the first sporting trophies ever created by CHANEL.
Presidents issue their challenges ahead of historic Centenary year
The countdown to the Centenary of the Women’s Boat Race has officially begun, as the Presidents of Oxford and Cambridge have issued their challenges for the 2027 Boat Race. At the traditional Presidents’ Challenge, held ahead of each Boat Race, the Presidents of the previous year’s losing crews formally challenge their victorious opponents to defend their titles.
Meet your Cambridge Presidents for The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2027
Meet your Cambridge University Boat Club Presidents for The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2027: Simon Hatcher and Eloise Etherington. Simon Hatcher is a two-time victorious Blue for Cambridge, rowing in the bow seat on both occasions. He is studying for a PhD in Nuclear Energy, and previously attended Brown University. He has also interned at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in California. Simon hails from Oregon, which is where he started his rowing career.
Introducing the Oxford Presidents for The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2027
Introducing your Oxford University Boat Club Presidents for The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2027: Kyra Delray and Alex Sullivan. Kyra is a two-time Blue, tasting defeat in 2025 before that historic Dark Blue victory in 2026. She is studying for a DPhil in Health Data Science, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), linking data from wearable tech to physical and mental health.
Rivals Renew Battle at Henley
Images courtesy of Ben Tufnell, Henley Royal Regatta When Henley Royal Regatta begins this summer, Oxford and Cambridge will once again arrive on the Berkshire bank carrying both expectation and tradition. While The Boat Race remains the defining contest between the Dark Blues and Light Blues, Henley offers a different challenge. The knockout format, the international field and the variety of events create opportunities for athletes beyond the Blue Boats to make their mark.
Osiris-Blondie: Women's Reserve Race 2026
Words: Hannah Evans Oxford won the toss and chose Surrey. Off the start, both crews were level with Blondie on the Middlesex station and Osiris on the Surrey station. The crews remained substantially level with each other along the Putney embankment with Blondie rating higher than Osiris. As the crews neared Fulham Pier, Blondie pulled ahead of Osiris as Blondie was warned by the umpire for their line.
Isis-Goldie: Men's Reserve Race 2026
Words: Anna Rowbotham A record winning margin of 19 lengths to the Cambridge Men’s Reserve Crew (Goldie) in tough conditions. In the 61st Isis vs Goldie Men’s Reserve Race, the third race of the day, Oxford and Cambridge battled some of the toughest conditions the Tideway could offer. Cambridge won with a convincing 19 length verdict in a time of 18 minutes and 11 seconds – a record margin since men’s reserve races began in 1965.
The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2027 date confirmed
We are delighted to confirm the date of The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2027, which will mark 100 years since the first Women’s Boat Race. The Boat Race 2027 will take place on Sunday 11 April 2027, with the races at 15.40 and 16.40. You will be able to watch all the action live from the riverbank on Channel 4, and follow on Times Radio. 2027 marks 100 years since the first Women’s Boat Race, which took place on 15 March 1927. We can’t wait to welcome you to London’s Party By The River.
Light and Dark Blue on the Thames
It was Cambridge men and Oxford women who took the victories on the Tideway in the CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026. Saturday 4 April 2026, London –Oxford sealed victory in the Women’s Boat Race for the first time in nine years and Cambridge made it four consecutive wins in the Men’s Boat Race, as the crews contended with some of the most windy and choppy conditions in recent Boat Race memory.
Cambridge defend their title in the Men's Boat Race
Cambridge defend their title in the Men’s Boat Race 04th April 2026 In rough and windy conditions, heavy favourites Cambridge won the Men’s Boat Race. In their fourth title in a row, the Light Blues never quite shook their Dark Blue counterparts who impressed with an underdog performance. Keep up to date Become a subscriber today and get all the latest Boat Race news, developments and features straight to your inbox.
Oxford win Women's Boat Race
Ten years on from their previous victory in the Women’s Boat Race, Oxford finally found a way to win as they powered into an immediate lead over Cambridge which they held to the finish line in rough and windy conditions. With both coxes making strategic decisions down the course to cut the corners, the result felt in the balance until the final few hundred metres as Cambridge never let go. For Annie Anezakis and Sarah Marshall, it was their first victory at the fourth attempt.
The Youth Boat Race: Year three and going strong
Image credit: Jason Garcia In 2026, Boat Race weekend once again begins by celebrating the future of the sport. On the Friday before the world-famous contest, the Championship Course will belong to a new generation, as students from local state schools take to the Thames for the Youth Boat Race Now firmly established in its third year, the Youth Boat Race has quickly become a valued and much-loved part of the Boat Race calendar.
Who will reign in 2026?
Words: Tom Ransley MBE Last year the Tideway ran Light Blue as Cambridge continued their domination of The Boat Race. On the tenth anniversary of the Women’s Boat Race moving to The Championship Course, the Cambridge women held their nerve after wayward steering from Oxford caused a violent clash of blades and a dramatic restart. Oxford’s oarsmen fared no better: for the third consecutive year Cambridge secured victory in the Men’s Boat Race.
A Tale of Two Blues
Words: Kassia St. Clair This article has been taken from The Boat Race 2026 Souvenir Race Programme. Access the digital version for free. The provocative French artist Yves Klein was on to something when he claimed that “Blue has no dimensions”. “All the other colours”, he continued, “bring with them associations of concrete, material, tangible ideas.” He is far from the only one to believe this colour has an unknowable quality about it.
Hammersmith's Lyric Square on Boat Race Weekend
Row Fest: the Big Screen is back! Head to Lyric Square on the weekend of the Boat Race and Easter to enjoy two days of free entertainment. Friday 3 April 2026 Lyric Square, 12.30 – 6pm Come and celebrate the Easter weekend in our deckchairs, play our giant game sets and enjoy live music. Saturday 4 April 2026 Our Big Screen returns for one day only… Plus we’ll have a pop-up bar from The Swan, giant games to play and our deckchairs.
Limited edition Boat Race 2026 Art Print now on sale
Limited edition Boat Race 2026 Art Print now on sale 23rd March 2026 Designed by renowned English graphic designer Peter Saville, with photography by Tom Johnson, the print will adorn your walls beautifully while providing a lasting momento of the occasion. Limited to an edition of 1000, this unframed poster celebrates the drama and excitement of the Men’s and Women’s 2026 Boat Races.
Overnght acquires Exclusive North America, Australia and New Zealand streaming rights to The CHANEL J12 Boat Race Through 2030
Historic Oxford–Cambridge rivalry to stream exclusively across the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand Overnght, the global streaming platform dedicated to Olympic and untapped sports, today announced it has secured the exclusive international digital streaming rights to The CHANEL J12 Boat Race across the United States, Australia, Canada (including its territories, commonwealths, and possessions), and New Zealand through 2030.
Sisters set to face each other in the Women's Boat Race
Older sister Lilli has been selected for the three seat of the Oxford Women’s Blue Boat, while Mia, who is nearly two years younger, will row at seven in the Cambridge crew. This will be Mia’s first Boat Race, though she competed in Blondie last year, while it’s Lilli’s second. She had previously raced twice in Osiris. As Lilli, 26, is in her final year at Oxford this is the only opportunity the sisters will have to compete in the historic event together.
The Boat Race Welcomes Fortnum & Mason as Official Luxury Food Partner on Race Day
Fortnum & Mason is partnering with The Boat Race in a collaboration which brings together two icons of British tradition. Fortnum & Mason will provide dining experiences to hospitality guests at The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026. The Boat Race is one of the world’s oldest and most famous amateur sporting events, dating back to 1829.
Times Radio confirmed as official radio partner of The Boat Race
The Boat Race announces second landmark broadcast partnership as Times Radio confirmed as official radio partner in three-year deal Tuesday 10 March, London, UK – The Boat Race has today confirmed a partnership with Times Radio, which will see the digital station become the event’s official radio partner in a three-year agreement running until 2028. The announcement comes with the latest edition of the iconic event less than four weeks away.
2026 Souvenir Race Programme: ready to order!
Have you see our 2026 Souvenir Race Programme cover design? Available now to pre-order on The Boat Race Shop. Pre-orders will be dispatched the week commencing Monday 2 March 2026, with all orders after that dates dispatched according to stated posting dates. The design is by London-based designer Peter Saville, with original photography by Tom Johnson.
Canon Noel Duckworth
Canon Noel Duckworth, the son of a Yorkshire vicar, became a coxswain famous for remarkable achievements on and off the water, his career inseparably linked with Jesus College, Cambridge University and The Boat Race. Arriving at Jesus College in 1931, Duckworth’s rowing career almost ended before it had begun. On his very first outing as a cox, he misjudged his steering, knocked ten feet off the end of the boat and sent the crew into the river.
The Championship Course: a journey through time
Words: Mike Vernon Since 1845, the Boat Race has, with just a few exceptions such as wartime and COVID, been held on what became known as The Championship Course – from Putney to Mortlake. The River Thames remains the same, but modern-day rowers would not recognise much about the riverbanks of the course way back in history. This 1880 map, held by The London Picture Archive, is believed to be the oldest map of The Championship Course as a distinct entity. Come with us as we journey down the course.
The Boat Race and Fulham Pier announce collaboration
Thursday, 29 January, London, UK – Fulham Pier and The Boat Race have today announced a new collaboration that will see Fulham Pier affirmed as a key riverside destination for The CHANEL J12 Boat Race, held this year on Saturday 4 April 2026 during Easter Weekend. The collaboration will introduce a premium hospitality experience set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most iconic sporting events.
"We just carried on because it was the only thing we could do" - The Women’s Boat Race 2016 - The CHANEL J12 Boat Race
Words: Helena Smalman-Smith, with thanks to Mark Taylor for excerpts from his article in Cambridge News. 10 years ago, Cambridge lost the Women’s Boat Race. But they won the respect of everyone who witnessed their astonishing comeback from being hull-down in some of the roughest conditions ever.
Cambridge Trial VIIIs: a bit of Spice with Beans
It was all Light Blue on the Tideway for the internal Trial Eights races, as Cambridge raced Cambridge. First up were the women, and last year’s Blondie Eloise Etherington stroked ‘Baby Spice‘ to victory over two-time winning Blue Carys Earl in ‘Ginger Spice’. Carys Earl’s ‘Ginger Spice’ (left) finished five lengths down on Eloise Etherington’s ‘Baby Spice’. The men followed, in far rougher conditions as the wind picked up in the second half of the course.
The Sound Of The Boat Race
Words: Simon Hatcher It was the last day of 2024, and the first day of training camp with Cambridge in Avis, Portugal. I sat at a circular table in the corner of the hotel dining room, surrounded by teammates, eating delicious food, the sun shining on my back. Suddenly, my left eardrum burst. Rowing doesn’t seem like a sport that needs sound. Sound seems only necessary insofar as it’s the best way to convey instructions from people in charge, like a coach, a coxswain, or a mouthy crewmate.
We Will Remember Them: Boat Race alumni and the World Wars
Words: Mike Vernon Remembrance Day is an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in conflicts. The shadows of the First World War were beginning to loom in 1912 which is when we begin our look at the impact of the two World Wars on the men who had taken part in The Boat Race. The contest in that year of 1912 hit choppy waters. Cambridge sank and Oxford had to row to the bank and bail out the boat. Oxford won the re-row a week later.
Something Bigger Than You: The Boat Race
Words: Alexander Finger, MPhil Architecture and Urban Studies, Cambridge I think I watched the Boat Race for the first time all the way back in 2017 or 2018. My parents, both rowers themselves, brought home pizza and said to my siblings and me, let’s watch something special. So, sitting at home in Germany, our slices of pizza in our hands, watching eagerly the race unfold in front of the TV, I felt something I did not know before.
The Boat Race: Record Breakers
Records are there to be broken, so goes the saying, and there are a plethora up for grabs every year in The Boat Races. They can be collective or individual, in the men’s or women’s races, and in the overall series of tussles between the two universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and in every one of the current numbers of note, there are tales to be told. The headline figures provide the most obvious places to start.
Rivalry Renewed at The Presidents’ Challenge ahead of The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026
Oxford’s President Heidi Long OLY will lead Oxford women as they attempt to reverse recent Cambridge dominance, with the Light Blues winning every Women’s Boat Race since 2017 Cambridge Men’s President Noam Mouelle will lead Cambridge men into The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026 campaign The Women’s Boat Race was the most-watched women’s sports event in winter/spring 2025.
Channel 4 and The Boat Race announce a multi-year broadcast agreement
Channel 4 wins competitive rights bid to become the exclusive free-to-air TV home of one of Britain’s most historic sporting events The new agreement will see the broadcaster provide coverage of both the Men’s Boat Race and Women’s Boat Race for the next five years, starting in 2026. The Boat Race attracted record viewership numbers in 2025, with The Women’s Boat Race the most watched female sporting event in 2025 at the time.
What is the Presidents' Challenge?
Every single Boat Race since the first, in 1829, has only been raced after a formal challenge from one club to another. On Wednesday 1 October, this years’ student Presidents from the losing crews will challenge their winning opponents to The Boat Race 2026. Follow our social feeds to see images and videos of this historic moment. But where did it start?
Remembering Chas Newens
Photo: Judith Packer Text: with thanks to Tim Koch The Boat Race community mourns the death of Charlie Newens, known as Chas, on 7 September 2025, a long-time member of the team that makes the race happen.
What's the point in cities hosting major events?
Iain Edmondson has had a career in calculating the impact of major events. He’s now joined the Boat Race board, and we’re delighted he sat down with us to explain exactly how the benefits of huge public events are understood. Q: Being involved in London 2012 must have been fascinating. What was your specific remit? I was originally a paid employee of the company set up to prepare the bid (which was finally won in July 2005).
Kyra Delray: weddings and data science
My PhD is in Health Data Science, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). I’m working on causal machine learning with the department of Statistics as well as the wearables group at Oxford. Our aim is to better understand the causality of time series and wearable data to short and long term health outcomes in machine learning models. We simulate counterfactuals and generate causal inference for useful interventions for health and wellness.
Oxford Men's President Announced: Tobias Bernard
2024 Reserve Crew and 2025 Blue Boat Cox, meet Tobias Bernard. Tobias will lead the Dark Blue men for The Boat Race 2026 as President. I study the MChem Chemistry which is the undergraduate integrated master’s degree in chemistry. This is my third year with Oxford University Boat Club (OUBC). I will never forget my first Boat Race Day as part of the club. It impressed on me the extraordinary atmosphere of the race and the unique privilege that it is to compete in it.
"The Boat Race earned my respect very quickly": Heidi Long
Olympic medallist and Oxford’s Blue Boat stroke for The Boat Race 2025, the incoming women’s President this year will be Heidi Long. This will be your second year rowing with Oxford University Boat Club (OUBC). What was your most memorable experience of last year? As clichéd as it sounds, there were so many incredible memories so it’s hard to pick. But Trial Eights really stands out.
Cambridge Women's President Announced: Gemma King
Gemma King has been a stalwart of the Light Blue women’s squad for seven years, and is stepping up to lead the Cambridge women for The Boat Race 2026. She explained why she stood for President and how she will try to continue the high standards that have been set over the last eight years, with Cambridge winning every Women’s Boat Race since 2017. This will be your eighth year rowing with CUBC. What have been your most memorable experiences in those years?
Cambridge Men's President Announced: Noam Mouelle
Noam Mouelle has been elected as Cambridge Men’s President for the 2026 season. The Paris native told us about his journey through rowing and his Boat Race plans for this year… as well as atom interferometry! Tell us about Société Nautique du Perreux, on the Marne on the eastern side of Paris. What was the atmosphere at the club? When I first joined the club as a kid, there wasn’t yet a strong tradition of winning national championships, but there was a solid sporting culture.
Henley Royal Regatta: Cambridge's Grand Challenge
Cambridge University men have entered a line-up close to their victorious 2025 Boat Race crew into the Grand Challenge Cup, the premier event for men’s eights, at Henley Royal Regatta. They will be facing national eights from the Netherlands, Australia and the home crew from Great Britain. The Light Blues recorded the seventh fastest time in history in this year’s Boat Race despite the blustery conditions.
Head in the Clouds: Meet Lilli Freischem
Lilli Freischem rowed at 2 in the Oxford Women’s Blue Boat in The Boat Race 2025, following her stints in the Reserve Crew in 2023 and 2024. How has life been since The Boat Race? Life since The Boat Race has been filled with a mix of academic, rowing, and social activities. I travelled to Vienna just over a week after the race for a conference where I was presenting my research.
From The Boat Race, to a puppy, then helping others go shoe shopping: meet Ollie Boyne
How has life been since the Boat Race? Things have been going well! I took a couple of weeks after the race to do absolutely nothing and decompress, which I think was much needed after a long season. Since then, it’s been thesis writing, and some rowing training as we look towards Henley. My girlfriend and I got a puppy at the start of the season, who I didn’t see as much of in the lead up to the Boat Race, so it’s been nice to spend lots of time with him, especially in the nicer weather.
Pushing the boundaries of coaching: the Penny Chuter story
Olivia Bothamley-Dakin Photo: Penny Chuter’s personal collection. Last November, the rowing world mourned the death of Penny Chuter, an inspirational athlete and coach who carved the way for women to sit at the top table in rowing. We’re proud of the role The Boat Race played in Penny’s career when she made history in 1994 being appointed head of Oxford University Boat Club. Born into a world where many rowing clubs were for men only, Chuter through talent and grit broke down barriers.
Olympic adversaries renewed rivalry in The Boat Race
Both Olympians, both Boat Race rookies, both born on 29 November 1996, Cambridge’s six seat, Claire Collins and Oxford stroke Heidi Long have led spookily similar lives. On 13 April, they took to the Thames with one aim, to beat each other. Boat Race Day marked the 15th time the two have battled each other in a boat. The last time was in the final for the Women’s Eight at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Veteran Boat Races 2025: Glorious conditions, a course record, and a disqualification
12 April 2025 The Veteran Boat Race course runs from the University Boat Race Stone in Putney to Furnival steps in Hammersmith. As a shortened version of the Championship course, the races are often tight and make for an exciting prequel to the traditional men’s and women’s Boat Races the following day. The crews showcase a wealth of experience ranging from Boat Race champions to former international and Olympic athletes, with a qualifying average age of 42.
Cambridge win the Men's Boat Race 2025
Cambridge win the Men’s Boat Race 2025 13th April 2025 Cambridge won the Men’s Boat Race by 5 and a half lengths in their sixth victory in seven years. The verdict was 5.5 lengths in a time of 16:56. Keep up to date Become a subscriber today and we’ll keep you informed of all major developments, news and more, 100% spam free!
Cambridge win the Women's Boat Race 2025
The Women’s Boat Race was won by Cambridge for the eighth consecutive year, defeating Oxford by 2.5 lengths after a clash and restart early on. Shortly before the end of the Fulham Wall, Oxford and Cambridge came together and clashed. Umpire Matthew Pinsent stopped the race and restarted giving Cambridge a slight lead. Cambridge, on the Middlesex station, drew away from Oxford on Surrey throughout the 4.25 mile course although Oxford fought hard to the end.
Cambridge complete a clean sweep of all races
Cambridge complete a clean sweep of all races 13th April 2025 The Tideway is Light Blue in 2025 as Cambridge win the Men’s and Women’s Boat Races, as well as both Reserve Races. They completed the full set by also picking up victories in the lightweight men and women’s races, held the day before. Keep up to date Become a subscriber today and we’ll keep you informed of all major developments, news and more, 100% spam free!
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