Since time immemorial, the rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge has stood as one of the greatest in the world. This weekend, they met in the battle of blades to see who will be crowned winner of the 171st Boat Race.
My first experience of the Boat Race though, was in Lusaka, Zambia in 2024. I had received an invitation to the Alumni watch party from a friend who had been an Oxford scholar. Curious and excited, I went along to peek behind the Oxbridge curtain.
The table was divided into the two shades of blue – light for Cambridge and deep for Oxford. I sat in the middle and watched as the race began and everyone cheered their teams on. Cambridge was victorious and I was hooked on rowing!
Trying it for myself
I got to experience rowing firsthand through my College boat try-outs. I found that actually rowing is nothing like watching it. I was excited to go out on the water, but by the end, I had gained a healthy respect for the sport and decided I was happy to be a spectator!
Experienced rowers make it look effortless but my body was in pain. Trying to balance form with power is a real tightrope. Rowing left my muscles sore but I was happy to have tried.
Introducing the ‘Bumps’
Lent Term at Cambridge comes with ‘Bumps’; a rowing competition open all the College boat clubs, the University medical and veterinary schools and the Anglia Ruskin boat club.
Racing side-by-side for long stretches just doesn’t work on the River Cam – it’s too narrow and twisty – so back in the early 1800s they came up with bumping races as a fun alternative.
The boats line up with one and a half boat lengths between them, with their position on the river based on their performance in the previous year. Across the four days, the goal is to bump their boat into the one ahead of them. When a crew successfully bumps their competition across all four days, they win a blade with their names that will be displayed in their College or Boat Club.
This year I got to watch from the sidelines of the river Cam, and cheer for my College and friends participating. I have learnt more about rowing, and what it takes to be a rower, through my course mates. Aidan Poon and Emma Theron were selected for their respective College boat clubs and were able to win the 2026 blades. George Dickinson worked tirelessly and was selected for the Cambridge University Boat Club and competed against Oxford in the Men’s Reserve Boat. Through them, I see the discipline, determination and commitment it takes to be a rower at that level.
The 2026 Boat Race
The 2026 Boat Race was epic! I went to London to support Cambridge from the sidelines. The atmosphere was electric, everyone was buzzing in anticipation for the competition. The women's team had won every year since 2016, so the pressure was on. The men's team was aiming for their fourth win and the crews were ready to ace the competition.
Sadly, the Cambridge women’s main boat lost after a strong race. The women’s reserve and both men’s boats won their races and victory painted the Thames with Cambridge blue.
Rowing is not a sport I grew up with but something about it draws you in. The camaraderie you see in the crews and all the legacies around it make it special.
If you have the opportunity, I’d urge you to grab it – give rowing a go or get down to the river and soak up the electric atmosphere from the bank. It’s an experience you won’t forget.
