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:
Boat Race 2025 LIVE
- Cambridge do the double over Oxford with victories in men's and women's races
- Cambridge crush Oxford to win men's Boat Race by huge margin
- Cambridge win the Women's Boat Race after early drama with restart
- Moment big clash halts Oxford vs Cambridge Women’s Boat Race
- Selection row and water quality fears threaten to overshadow Boat Race
- Cambridge coach Rob Baker hails ‘best crew’ of career after Boat Race success
Cambridge coach Rob Baker hails ‘best crew’ of career after Boat Race success
17:41 , Jamie BraidwoodCoach 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
15:58 , Jamie BraidwoodThe 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
15:30 , Jamie BraidwoodCambridge 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
15:03 , Jamie BraidwoodMatt 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
14:54 , Jamie BraidwoodA 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's men make it a Light Blues double in 2025! 🚣♂️#TheBoatRace pic.twitter.com/HYAutyFW1Q
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 13, 2025
Cambridge do the double over Oxford again
14:51 , Jamie BraidwoodThree 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
14:48 , Jamie BraidwoodA 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.
The 170th Boat Race goes to the @Cambridge_Uni Men's Crew! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/JMJr2WQqiX
— The Boat Race (@theboatrace) April 13, 2025
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:46 , Jamie BraidwoodThis 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
14:43 , Jamie BraidwoodThis 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.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:41 , Jamie BraidwoodThe double is on for Cambridge. They are pulling away from Oxford and opening up a sizable gap, despite Oxford having the Surrey bend.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:39 , Jamie BraidwoodCambridge lead by a length at Hammersmith Bridge. The team who leads at halfway usually goes on to win the Boat Race.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:37 , Jamie BraidwoodCloser to a full length now for Cambridge with the Hammersmith Bridge pulling into view.
And they are gaining too!
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:35 , Jamie BraidwoodCambridge have pulled half a length ahead approaching Hammersmith Bridge, but they’ve had the bend going past Craven Cottage and it’s Oxford who will have the marginal advantage in the second half.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:33 , Jamie BraidwoodOxford’s bow is marginally ahead as the crews pass Craven Cottage.
Cambridge are receiving a warning from the race umpire after drifting to the middle.
It’s close.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge underway
14:31 , Jamie BraidwoodWE’RE OFF AT LAST! Both crews are neck and neck over the first 30 seconds, getting off the line with rapid, powerful strokes.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge - Men's start delayed
14:29 , Jamie BraidwoodIt’s taking a rather long time to clear a piece of wood. But the race is now set to start in two minutes.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge - Men's start delayed
14:24 , Jamie BraidwoodThere is some sort of debris in the water, so we wait for it to float away from the racing line...
A boat has been sent to clear what has been described as a plank of wood.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:21 , Jamie BraidwoodHere we go! The boats are in the water and we are ready to go. Let’s hope for a smoother start to the men’s race than we had for the women’s race about an hour ago.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:17 , Jamie BraidwoodThe 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)
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:16 , Jamie BraidwoodThe 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)
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:07 , Jamie BraidwoodThe controversy surrounding this year’s Boat Race has centred around eligibility after Olympic champion Tom Ford was banned from taking part as part of the Cambridge crew.
Ford was banned following a crackdown on elite-level ‘ringers’ entering the Boat Race in the wake of double-Olympic champion James Cracknell competing, and winning, the race in 2019 – 13 years after his competitive retirement.
Following Cracknell’s appearance in the race, the rules were changed in 2021 to prevent anyone competing more than 12 years after beginning an undergraduate degree course. Ford matriculated in 2011.
Men's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
14:00 , Jamie BraidwoodSo Cambridge have the upper hand with victory in the women’s race. Can they complete another double in the men’s race?
Cambridge have won in the last two years - and six of the last eight - and are favourites to retain their title again on the Thames.
Oxford Men won the toss and selected Surrey.
'The better crew, the faster crew, won'
13:51 , Jamie BraidwoodHere’s umpire Sir Matthew Pinsent on the restart and whether the right decision was made...
“There was a clash between the crews that stopped the race. To my mind, I was warning Oxford. The clash was heavy enough to stop the race.
“At that moment there are a range of options. You could disqualify them straight away. That did pop into my mind but you can also see, after the restart, if it affected the outcome of the race. I’m convinced the better crew, the faster crew, won.”
Tears in the Cambridge boat
13:45 , Jamie BraidwoodThere are tears and hugs in the Cambridge boat. There will no jumping into the water at Mortlake, though. Better get onto some dry land...
Cambridge win the Women's Boat Race
13:42 , Jamie BraidwoodIt’s Cambridge - the winning time is 19:25, which is not the record that a few thought Cambridge had within them pre-race.
There was a clear margin between the crews at the finish line.
Cambridge win the Women's Boat Race
13:41 , Jamie BraidwoodEIGHT in a row for Cambridge in the Women’s Boat Race. It’s a big victory of the light Blues, who showed their dominance after some early drama when the boats clashed oars. Cambridge opened up their lead once the race was restarted and this is a huge margin of victory. The pain of defeat is a familiar one for Oxford, who remain without a win in this race since their last victory in 2016.
Women's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
13:38 , Jamie BraidwoodPassing Barnes Bridge now and Cambridge are still looking comfortable. The pre-race favourites will be extending their winning streak in the Women’s Boat Race.
Women's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
13:34 , Jamie BraidwoodThe next landmark the crews will pass is the Chiswick Steps and Cambridge have pulled into a greater lead. We’ve passed the halfway mark and already it feels as if the clash of oars early on and Oxford’s aggressive start out of the blocks will be the talking point.
Women's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
13:31 , Jamie BraidwoodThere’s a clear gap between leaders Cambridge and Oxford, and the gap is growing as we approach the nine-minute mark.
Women's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
13:29 , Jamie BraidwoodCambridge have pulled a length ahead as the crews approach the Hammersmith Bridge.
Cambridge have received a couple of white flags after drifting across the middle line.
But they have been able to get into a comfortable rhythm.
Women's Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge
13:26 , Jamie BraidwoodBACK 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
13:24 , Jamie BraidwoodDrama. 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
13:22 , Jamie BraidwoodWe 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
13:19 , Jamie BraidwoodThe 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
13:16 , Jamie BraidwoodOxford 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
13:01 , Jamie BraidwoodTwo 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
12:55 , Jamie BraidwoodCampaign 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
12:45 , Flo CliffordThe 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
12:25 , Flo CliffordThe 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
12:04 , Jamie BraidwoodThe 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)
Boat Race: Meeting the Cambridge women's crew
11:40 , Flo CliffordCambridge Women have Australian 2024 Olympic spare Samy Morton and two-time Olympian, and former World Championships bronze medallist Claire Collins in their boat. The American has raced a parallel career to Long: the pair share a birthday and have faced off several times through the junior, U23 and senior ranks, including at the Olympics last summer. Cambridge’s Blue Boat also features returning winners from last year’s crew, Carys Earl and Gemma King, the latter in her seventh Boat race campaign.
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)
Boat Race: Meet the Oxford Women's team
11:20 , Flo CliffordOxford Women’s most decorated rower this year is Heidi Long, a British bronze medallist from the Paris 2024 Olympics in the women’s eight. The boat’s third-place finish marked just the second time in history that GB had won a medal in the race. GB have another potential Olympian in the Oxford boat in Kyra Delray, who has won junior and under-23 medals for the national team and recovered from double hip surgery to race this Sunday.
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)
Boat Race 2025: Who is competing for Oxford and Cambridge?
11:06 , Jamie BraidwoodThe Blue Boats will vie for glory along a four-mile stretch of the River Thames from Putney to Mortlake, with Oxford out to end a streak of Cambridge dominance in recent years. The Light Blues have won seven years in a row in the women’s race and six of the last eight men’s races.
To combat this, Oxford have a new-look squad, with a brand-new coaching setup and a host of former Olympians in their Blue Boat.
Cambridge’s preparation for the race has been rocked by a spat over selection, with Oxford successfully banning three of the opposition crew, all PGCE students, from taking part in a debate which has dragged on for months.
Whether that has a material impact in ending Cambridge’s long winning streak remains to be seen, with all to play for.
When are the Boat Races?
11:01 , Jamie BraidwoodThe women’s race will start at 1.20pm with the men’s race following at 2.20pm BST on Sunday 13 April. The action will be shown live on the BBC, with coverage getting underway at 12.45pm.
We’ll bring you the latest build-up.
Good morning
11:00 , Jamie BraidwoodThe annual Boat Race returns for another day of elite action on the River Thames.
This year’s edition has been rocked by controversy in the lead-up to the pivotal day, with a row erupting over eligibility rules after Olympian Tom Ford was banned from taking part for Cambridge.
Earlier, three post-graduate teacher training students were also deemed ineligible, with the decision made less than a month before the two universities were scheduled to face off.
The spat has heightened the stakes in an already-dramatic race, with Oxford seeking to end years of Cambridge domination of the event. The light blue competitors have won seven years in a row in the women’s race and six of the last eight men’s editions.
