The stage is set for the Boat Race on Sunday 13th April. Last week, the Youth Boat Race returned for its second ever outing, after enjoying successful participation in 2024. Hosted at the Fulham Reach Boat Club, 64 state schools contributed rowers to form the teams that competed over the course of the sunny Saturday morning and afternoon. While some schools formed composite crews to ensure maximised access, others put their own out. After preliminary time trial races in the morning, four side-by-side races took place with friends and family lining the banks to support.
Adam Freeman-Pask, the CEO of Fulham Reach Boat Club offered a positive comment: “Today isn’t just about racing—it’s about the opportunity to take part, make friends, build a community, and share the journey of these incredible young athletes taking to the water. This event, inspired by the iconic Boat Race, shows that rowing belongs to everyone. Whether you’re racing, supporting, or volunteering—thank you for being part of this journey.”
Mayor Patricia Quigley also praised the growth the event had seen in just one year: “This is about more than sport. It’s about creating opportunities for young people to support one another, to build confidence, and to be part of something bigger than themselves. It’s inspiring to see how far this event has come.”
All participants were given medals in the spirit of widening participation and access.
Moving on to Wednesday, the spare pairs raced in a day that’s slightly less positive if you’re on the Oxford side. Both the men’s openweight and lightweight pairs were beaten by their Cambridge counterparts. In fact the only time Cambridge lost was when they raced themselves. After Oxford pulled out of the women’s lightweight pair in opposition of Lucy Harvard’s – the CUBC’s women’s president’s – eligibility, the Cambridge lightweight pair rowed against their openweights. Harvard had already been declared ineligible for any Blue, reserve (Blondie) or lightweight crew due to the twelve year rule – in order to be eligible, you must have matriculated twelve years ago or earlier. Oxford also wanted to race in a coxed four, rather than pairs but Cambridge insisted that while they might bend to a four, Harvard would race either way.
As squabbling continues and tensions rise, all eyes now turn to the lightweight races on Saturday, and the Blues and reserve races, set to take place on Sunday.
The schedule is as follows:
Lightweight races on Saturday 12th April:
Women’s: 12:51
Women’s Vets: 13:11
Men’s Vets: 13:31
Men’s: 13:51
Race-day on Sunday 13th April:
Women’s Blues: 13:21
Osiris vs. Blondie: 13:36
Isis vs. Goldie: 13:51
Men’s Blues: 14:21
Find coverage on BBC One, BBC iPlayer or on the Boat Race Official YouTube channel.
