Boat Race 2023 LIVE: Cambridge and Oxford compete over four mile course on River Thames
Cambridge men hope to regain their title after Oxford won the 2022 race
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Your support makes all the difference.The 2023 Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford takes place London this afternoon as the two famous universities clash on the River Thames.
In the men’s race last year, Oxford ended three years of Cambridge victories with a win of two and a quarter lengths. It was their first victory since 2017 after the race was abandoned in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The margin of victory was the same in the women’s race but the spoils went to Cambridge who extended their winning run to five years.
The 77th women’s race starts at 4pm and the 168th men’s follows at 5pm. An estimated 250,000 people are expected to watch the races from the banks of the river as the annual event takes place over 4.25 miles from Putney to Mortlake.
Follow all the action from the Boat Races with our liveblog below:
Men’s Boat Race
The men’s race is coming up at 5pm in what should be a closer affair. Oxford are the reigning champions but Cambridge have a very strong team.
Men’s crews
Oxford: James Forward; Alex Bebb; Freddy Orpin; Tom Sharrock; James Doran; Jean-Philippe Dufour; Tassilo von Mueller; Felix Drinkall; Anna O’Hanlon (cox)
Cambridge: Matt Edge; Brett Taylor; Noam Moulle; Seb Benzecry; Thomas Lynch; Nick Mayhew; Ollie Parish; Luca Ferraro; Jasper Parish (cox)
Reaction from the presidents
Winning Cambridge president, Caoimhe Dempsey, spoke to the BBC after the race saying:
“A tough race, there was so much going on, the girls were tenacious and brave. We have girls with so many different experiences. I am very proud.”
Oxford president, Sara Helin, said: “We feel we had a chance with the protest but I couldn’t really see. I’m just going by what the cox says.”
Women’s Boat Race 2023
Here’s a few of the best photos from the race:
Women’s Boat Race 2023
Tara Slade rasied a protest at the end of the race saying Cambridge cut in front of Oxford. Umpire Matt Smith says "Yes but there was no contact."
Expert Zoe Toledo says "there aren’t many rules in the Boat Race, a lot of it is down to the umpire’s discretion but there was no contact and it’s hard to argue that it changed the outcome of the race."
Women’s Boat Race 2023
Tara Slade is counting down the strokes to the finish line for Oxford. The eight are giving it their all but it’s not going to be enough.
Ahead of them Cambridge cross the line in just over 20 minutes.
Cambridge win the Women’s Boat Race!
Women’s Boat Race 2023
Heading around the last bend underneath Barnes Bridge and Cambridge are extending their lead over Oxford. It’s been a decent row from Oxford but Cambridge are at another level.
They’ve dominated the race for the last five years and are cruising to victory once again.
Women’s Boat Race 2023
Oxford are around three minutes behind as Cambridge arrive at the Chiswick steps. That’s a huge gap and it seems highly unlikely that they’ll be able to catch the defending champions.
Women’s Boat Race 2023
Cambridge now have the inside turn having passed under Hammersmith Bridge. They are a good length or so ahead of Oxford now but cox Tara Slade says that Cambridge have used too much energy.
She’s encouraging Oxford to maintain their rhythm.
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