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The Boat Race

Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:33:31 PM Wikipedia source

The Boat Race is an annual set of rowing races between the Cambridge University Boat Club and the Oxford University Boat Club, traditionally rowed between open-weight eights on the River Thames in London, England. It is also known as the University Boat Race and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The men's race was first held in 1829 and is the second oldest inter-university sporting event in the world. It has been held annually since 1856, except during the First and Second World Wars (although unofficial races were conducted) and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The first women's event was held in 1927, and the Women's Boat Race has been an annual event since 1964. Since 2015, the women's race has taken place on the same day and course, and since 2018 the combined event of the two races has been referred to as "The Boat Race". The Championship Course has hosted the vast majority of the races. Covering a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) stretch of the Thames in West London, from Putney to Mortlake, it is over three times the distance of an Olympic race. Members of both crews are traditionally known as blues and each boat as a "Blue Boat", with Cambridge in light blue and Oxford in dark blue. As of the 2025 race, Cambridge has won the men's race 88 times to Oxford's 81 times, with one dead heat, and has led Oxford in cumulative wins since 1930. In the women's race, Cambridge has won the race 48 times to Oxford's 30 times, and has led Oxford in cumulative wins since 1966. A reserve boat race has been held since 1965 for the men and since 1966 for the women. For a majority of time, over 250,000 people watch the race from the banks of the river. In 2009, a record 270,000 people watched the race live. The race is broadcast internationally on television; in 2014, 15 million people watched the race on television.

Infobox

Race area
The Championship CourseRiver Thames, London
Dates
1829, annual since 1856
Sponsor
CHANEL J12
Competitors
CUBC, OUBC
Distance
4.2 miles (6.8 km)
First race
10 June 1829
Website
www.theboatrace.org
Winner (2025)
Cambridge

Tables

Location of official runnings of the Boat Race · Courses
1829
1829
Year(s)
1829
Location
Henley-on-Thames
Notes
2.25-mile (3.62 km) stretch of the River Thames between Hambleden Lock and Henley Bridge
1836–1842
1836–1842
Year(s)
1836–1842
Location
Westminster to Putney
Notes
5.75-mile (9.25 km) stretch of the River Thames between Westminster Bridge and Putney Bridge
1845, 1849–1854, 1857–1862, 1864–present (except 1944 and 2021)
1845, 1849–1854, 1857–1862, 1864–present (except 1944 and 2021)
Year(s)
1845, 1849–1854, 1857–1862, 1864–present (except 1944 and 2021)
Location
Championship Course
Notes
4-mile-374-yard (6,779 m) stretch of the River Thames between Putney to Mortlake
1846, 1856, 1863
1846, 1856, 1863
Year(s)
1846, 1856, 1863
Location
Championship Course
Notes
4-mile-374-yard (6,779 m) stretch of the River Thames between Mortlake to Putney
1944, 2021
1944, 2021
Year(s)
1944, 2021
Location
River Great Ouse
Notes
5,350-yard (4.89 km) stretch of river between Adelaide Bridge and Sandhill Bridge
Year(s)
Location
Notes
1829
Henley-on-Thames
mile (3.62 km) stretch of the River Thames between Hambleden Lock and Henley Bridge
1836–1842
Westminster to Putney
mile (9.25 km) stretch of the River Thames between Westminster Bridge and Putney Bridge
1845, 1849–1854, 1857–1862, 1864–present (except 1944 and 2021)
Championship Course
4-mile-374-yard (6,779 m) stretch of the River Thames between Putney to Mortlake
1846, 1856, 1863
Championship Course
4-mile-374-yard (6,779 m) stretch of the River Thames between Mortlake to Putney
1944, 2021
River Great Ouse
5,350-yard (4.89 km) stretch of river between Adelaide Bridge and Sandhill Bridge
· Results
1820s
1820s
Decade
1820s
Total races
1
Cambridge wins
0
Oxford wins
1
1830s
1830s
Decade
1830s
Total races
2
Cambridge wins
2
Oxford wins
0
1840s
1840s
Decade
1840s
Total races
7
Cambridge wins
5
Oxford wins
2
1850s
1850s
Decade
1850s
Total races
6
Cambridge wins
2
Oxford wins
4
1860s
1860s
Decade
1860s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
1
Oxford wins
9
1870s
1870s
Decade
1870s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
7
Oxford wins
2
Notes
1 dead heat
1880s
1880s
Decade
1880s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
5
Oxford wins
5
1890s
1890s
Decade
1890s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
1
Oxford wins
9
1900s
1900s
Decade
1900s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
7
Oxford wins
3
1910s
1910s
Decade
1910s
Total races
5
Cambridge wins
1
Oxford wins
4
1920s
1920s
Decade
1920s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
9
Oxford wins
1
1930s
1930s
Decade
1930s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
8
Oxford wins
2
1940s
1940s
Decade
1940s
Total races
4
Cambridge wins
3
Oxford wins
1
1950s
1950s
Decade
1950s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
7
Oxford wins
3
1960s
1960s
Decade
1960s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
5
Oxford wins
5
1970s
1970s
Decade
1970s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
5
Oxford wins
5
1980s
1980s
Decade
1980s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
1
Oxford wins
9
1990s
1990s
Decade
1990s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
7
Oxford wins
3
2000s
2000s
Decade
2000s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
3
Oxford wins
7
2010s
2010s
Decade
2010s
Total races
10
Cambridge wins
5
Oxford wins
5
2020s
2020s
Decade
2020s
Total races
5
Cambridge wins
4
Oxford wins
1
Total
Total
Decade
Total
Total races
170
Cambridge wins
88
Oxford wins
81
Notes
1 dead heat
Decade
Total races
Cambridge wins
Oxford wins
Notes
1820s
1
0
1
1830s
2
2
0
1840s
7
5
2
1850s
6
2
4
1860s
10
1
9
1870s
10
7
2
1 dead heat
1880s
10
5
5
1890s
10
1
9
1900s
10
7
3
1910s
5
1
4
1920s
10
9
1
1930s
10
8
2
1940s
4
3
1
1950s
10
7
3
1960s
10
5
5
1970s
10
5
5
1980s
10
1
9
1990s
10
7
3
2000s
10
3
7
2010s
10
5
5
2020s
5
4
1
Total
170
88
81
1 dead heat

References

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