The Boat Race facts for kids

The Boat Race is an exciting yearly rowing competition. It happens between two famous universities: Cambridge University and Oxford University. The races are usually held on the River Thames in London, England. Each team uses a special boat called an eight, which has eight rowers and one person steering. People also call it the "University Boat Race."

The men's race first took place way back in 1829. It has happened every year since 1856, except during the two World Wars and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The women's race started in 1927 and has been an annual event since 1964. Since 2015, both the men's and women's races happen on the same day and course. From 2018, the whole event is simply called "The Boat Race."

Most races happen on The Championship Course. This part of the Thames in West London is about 4.2 miles (6.779 km) long. That's more than three times the length of an Olympic rowing race! Rowers from both teams are called "blues." Their boats are known as "Blue Boats." Cambridge wears light blue, and Oxford wears dark blue. As of the 2024 race, Cambridge has won the men's race 87 times. Oxford has won 81 times, and there has been one dead heat (a tie). Cambridge has been ahead in total wins since 1930. In the women's race, Cambridge has won 47 times, and Oxford has won 30 times. Cambridge has led in total wins since 1966. There are also races for reserve teams, which started in 1965 for men and 1966 for women.

Lots of people watch the race live from the riverbanks. Over 250,000 people usually come to watch. In 2009, a record 270,000 people watched! Millions more watch on TV around the world. In 2014, 15 million people tuned in.

History of the Men's Race

How the Race Started

An old picture of the 1841 Boat Race.

The idea for The Boat Race began in 1829. It was started by two friends, Charles Merivale from Cambridge and Charles Wordsworth from Oxford. They had gone to the same school, Harrow. Cambridge first challenged Oxford to a race at Henley-on-Thames. Oxford won that first race easily. Oxford's team wore dark blue because many of their rowers were from Christ Church college, whose colors were dark blue.

The second race was in 1836. This time, it was held in London, from Westminster to Putney. For a few years, the universities argued about where to race. Oxford liked Henley, and Cambridge preferred London. After the Oxford University Boat Club was officially formed, the races started again in 1839 on the Tideway in London. Since then, the losing team challenges the winner to a rematch every year.

The race has been held every year since 1856. The only times it didn't happen were during World War I (1915-1919), World War II (1940-1945), and in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 1877 Tie Race

The 1877 race ended in a dead heat, which means it was a tie. Both teams finished at the exact same time: 24 minutes and 8 seconds. The weather was very bad that day. The judge, John Phelps, was over 70 and had trouble seeing. Some people doubted his decision.

There's a famous story that Phelps said, "Dead heat... to Oxford by six feet," which doesn't make sense. But rowing experts say this story is probably not true. Phelps was known as "Honest John" because he was fair. He had to decide who won without a clear finish line. He saw that both boats were moving back and forth with each stroke. He couldn't tell who was ahead at the exact finish line, so he called it a tie. The stories about him being confused were likely made up by newspapers and Oxford fans later.

A painting showing the tied finish in 1877.

Races Cancelled During Wars

The Boat Race was not held during World War I (1915–1919) and World War II (1940–1945). This was because many students and rowers went off to fight in the wars. In 1915, a newspaper announced the race was cancelled because "every available oarsman... has joined the colours."

The 1959 Oxford Team Trouble

In 1959, some of the experienced Oxford rowers tried to remove their team president, Ronnie Howard, and coach, Jumbo Edwards. But their plan failed because Cambridge supported the president. Three of the unhappy rowers came back to the team. Oxford then went on to win the race by a lot.

The 1987 Oxford Team Trouble

Cambridge at their starting spot before the 2009 race.

After losing the 1986 race, Oxford's Chris Clark wanted to win badly. He brought in four talented American students who were also great rowers. They wanted to create the fastest Boat Race team ever.

However, there were disagreements with the coach, Dan Topolski. The American rowers felt he wanted them to train too much on land. This led to arguments, and the American rowers even walked out of practice sometimes. After a lot of discussion, the American rowers, including Clark, were removed from the team. They were replaced by rowers from Oxford's reserve team.

Even though Cambridge was expected to win, Oxford won the race by four boat lengths! This event was so famous that a book and a movie were made about it.

The 2012 Race Stopped

In the 2012 race, something unusual happened. A protester swam into the river right in front of the boats! The race had to stop for over 30 minutes for safety. When the race started again, the boats crashed. An Oxford rower's oar broke. The judge decided it was Oxford's fault, and the race continued. Cambridge quickly took the lead and won.

After the race, an Oxford rower needed medical help because he was so tired. Because of all the problems, the winning Cambridge team didn't celebrate much, and the award ceremony was cancelled.

2020 Race Cancelled

Just like many other sports events, The Boat Race in 2020 was cancelled. This was due to rules and concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 Race Moved

The 2021 races were held in a different location. They took place on the River Great Ouse in Ely, Cambridgeshire. The course was shorter and straight. This move was because of safety problems with Hammersmith Bridge in London and ongoing COVID-19 rules.

The 2022 Boat Race returned to its usual spot on the Thames.

Boats Sinking

Sometimes, the weather is so bad that boats can sink! In the 1912 race, both teams' boats sank because of strong winds. Oxford was ahead but started filling with water. They tried to empty their boat, but the race was stopped because Cambridge's boat also sank.

Cambridge's boat also sank in 1859 and 1978. Oxford's boat sank in 1925 and 1951. The 1951 race had to be re-rowed a few days later. In 1984, the Cambridge boat sank before the race even started after hitting another boat. The race was then held the next day. In 2016, the Cambridge women's boat started to sink but managed to finish the race.

History of the Women's Race

The Women's Boat Race started in 1927. For many years, it was run separately from the men's race. There used to be big differences between the two events. But since 2015, things have changed a lot. Thanks to sponsorship, both races are now held on the same day and course on the Tideway. The women's teams also have new training facilities, just like the men's teams, since 2016.

Race Courses

The very first Boat Race in 1829 was at Henley-on-Thames. But after that, the race has mostly been held on the the Championship Course on the Thames. The only exception was the 2021 race, which moved to the River Great Ouse because of the COVID-19 pandemic and safety worries. There were also unofficial races during World War II in different places.

The Championship Course

Map of The Boat Race course.

The Championship Course is 4 miles and 374 yards (6.779 km) long. It goes from Putney to Mortlake, passing through Hammersmith and Barnes. The river here makes an S-shape, flowing from east to west. The start and finish lines are marked by special stones on the riverbank.

Before the race, the team presidents flip a coin. The winner chooses which side of the river, called a "station," their boat will row on. They decide based on the weather, the tide, and how the river's bends might help their team. The north side (Middlesex) has an advantage on the first and last bends. The south side (Surrey) has the advantage on the longer middle bend.

During the race, the coxes (the people steering the boats) try to find the fastest part of the river. This is usually the deepest part. This often leads to the boats getting very close, and their oars might even touch! If one team gets more than a boat's length ahead, they can move in front of their opponent. This makes it very hard for the team behind to catch up. So, teams usually try to start fast. It's rare for the leading team to change after the halfway point.

The race is usually rowed westwards. It starts when the tide is coming in (called a flood tide). This means the rowers are going with the fast current, not against it. After the race, the winning team is given the Boat Race trophy. It's a tradition for the winning team to throw their cox into the Thames to celebrate!

Unofficial Courses

During World War II, there were four unofficial Boat Races. These races were not held in London, and the rowers didn't get official "blues" awards. These races are not counted in the official list:

• 1940, 1945 – Henley-on-Thames
• 1943 – Sandford-on-Thames
• 1944 – River Great Ouse, Ely

Women's Boat Race Courses

In its early years (1927 to 1976), the Women's Boat Race switched between The Isis in Oxford and the River Cam in Cambridge. These races were about 1,000 yards long. Twice, in 1929 and 1935, the race was held on the Tideway in London. Unlike the men's race, the official women's race continued for most years during World War II.

From 1977 to 2014, the Women's Boat Race was usually part of the Henley Boat Races. It was a 2000-meter course. However, in 2013, the Henley races moved to Dorney Lake because the water at Henley was too rough. In 2021, the women's race was held on the River Great Ouse in Ely, along with the men's race.

Media Coverage

The Boat Race first appeared in a short film in 1895. It was one of the first films ever shown in the UK outside of London. Today, the event is a big part of British culture. It is shown live on TV every year. The women's race has also become very popular on TV since 2015. In that year, 4.8 million people watched it.

BBC Television first showed the men's race in 1938. Before that, the BBC had covered it on radio since 1927. For a few years (2005-2009), another TV channel, ITV, showed the race. But it returned to the BBC in 2010.

Competitors

Men's Race Rowers

Many famous rowers have taken part in The Boat Race. Some have even won Olympic gold medals! For example, Sir Matthew Pinsent, who won four Olympic gold medals, rowed for Oxford in 1990, 1991, and 1993. Other Olympic gold medalists like James Cracknell and Tim Foster have also rowed for their universities.

Other well-known people who have rowed in the race include actor Hugh Laurie (Cambridge 1980) and TV presenter Dan Snow (Oxford 1999, 2000, 2001).

Student Status

Oxford and Cambridge Universities do not give special sports scholarships. Students who are athletes must meet the same academic standards as all other students. Being good at sports does not help them get into the university.

To make sure the race is truly between students, there was a discussion in 2007. Cambridge University decided not to give an official "blue" award to a rower who didn't finish his studies. This led to talks about whether only students in courses lasting at least two years should be allowed to race.

Standard of Men's Teams

In the early 1980s, some international rowers didn't think the Boat Race teams were very good. But since then, the standard of the teams has improved a lot. In 2007, Cambridge entered a big race called the London Head of the River Race. They were the fastest of the few teams that finished the course in very rough weather.

Sponsorship

The Boat Race has had sponsors since 1976. The money from sponsors helps pay for equipment and travel during training. Sponsors' logos are not usually on the boats themselves during the race. But they are often on the teams' training gear and race uniforms.

For a few years, the company Xchanging was the main sponsor. From 2013, BNY Mellon took over. From 2016 to 2018, BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management gave their sponsorship to Cancer Research UK, a charity.

Women's Race Sponsorship

The Women's Boat Race first got a sponsor in 2011, Newton Investment Management. Before this, the women's teams had to pay for everything themselves. Newton has continued to be a sponsor and has given a lot more money to the women's race.

The Boat Races (Combined Sponsorship)

In 2021, both the men's and women's Boat Races got the same sponsor for the first time. A company called Gemini, started by two former Oxford rowers, became the main sponsor. The event is now called "The Gemini Boat Race."

Other Boat Races at Oxford and Cambridge

Besides the main Boat Race, Oxford and Cambridge also have races for their reserve teams. The Oxford men's reserve team is called Isis. The Cambridge men's reserve team is called Goldie. For the women, Oxford's reserve team is Osiris, and Cambridge's is Blondie. These reserve races happen on the same day as the main race. There's also a veterans' race for older rowers, usually held a few days before the main event.

The universities also have teams for lightweight rowers. These rowers have to be under a certain weight. The men's lightweight race started in 1975, and the women's in 1984. Both of these races are now held on the Championship Course. Many lightweight rowers have gone on to compete at international and Olympic levels. For the men's lightweight race, the average weight of the team must be 70 kg (154.3 lb). No single rower can weigh more than 72.5 kg (159.8 lb). For the women's lightweight race, no rower can be over 59 kg (130 lb).

Statistics

Oxford in 1890 (winner)

Cambridge in 1890

Men's Race Facts

• Total Wins: Cambridge has won 87 times; Oxford has won 81 times. There has been 1 tie.
• Most Wins in a Row: Cambridge won 13 times in a row (1924–1936).
• Fastest Time: Cambridge set the course record in 1998, finishing in 16 minutes and 19 seconds.
• Closest Finish (not a tie): Oxford won by just 1 foot in 2003.
• Biggest Win: Cambridge won by 35 boat lengths in 1839.

• Reserve Team Wins: Cambridge (Goldie) has won 29 times; Oxford (Isis) has won 24 times.

Women's Race Facts

• Total Wins: Cambridge has won 47 times; Oxford has won 30 times.
• Fastest Time: Cambridge set the course record in 2022, finishing in 18 minutes and 22 seconds.
• Reserve Team Wins: Cambridge (Blondie) has won 27 times; Oxford (Osiris) has won 20 times.

Results

Cumulative wins by Oxford and Cambridge men's and women's blue and reserve boats (in the SVG file, hover over a graph to highlight it)

Men's Race Results

There have been 168 official races over 193 years.

Women's Race Results

There have been 75 races over 94 years.

Images for kids

• 

  The official logo for The Boat Race.

• 

  The light blue blade of Cambridge University.

• 

  The dark blue blade of Oxford University.

See also

• Oxford–Cambridge rivalry
• The Boat Race of the North – a similar race between Durham University and Newcastle University
• Harvard–Yale Regatta – a similar race in the United States
• Scottish Boat Race – a similar race in Scotland
• Varsity match
• The Welsh Boat Race – a similar race in Wales
• York and Lancaster Universities Roses Race - a boat race between University of York and Lancaster University
• Great River Race - an annual 22-mile race on the River Thames