Oxford Cambridge Boat Race

Takes place in March

The Oxford Cambridge Boat Race is a rowing race between Oxford and Cambridge University students. The event is contested annually on the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake. The course is four miles and 374 yards long and is one of England most famous sporting traditions. The race was first held between the universities in 1829- from 1856 the event has been held annually, with the exception of the war years. The national interest in the event is such that it is always televised.

Cambridge University are currently the narrow leaders over the past 150 years. There has been only one dead heat, in 1877, though race judge ‘Honest John’ Phelps was said to be asleep under a bush as the racers crossed the line leading him to blurt ‘A dead heat to Oxford by four feet!’

The two teams are extremely close each year and in the past the race has been won by less than twelve inches. On three separate occasions one of the teams has sunk their boat- much to the amusement of the crowds.

Entrants to the race have to be students at the relevant University to be applicable- such is the prestige of the boat race that for years there have been questions raised as to whether some students gain access to these institutions based on their rowing ability and not their academic achievements. These claims are strongly denied by both Cambridge and Oxford.