Oxford Women turn the tide whilst Cambridge retain all other titles at the 2026 CHANEL J12 Boat Race
Full race reports for the Blues, Reserve and Lightweight Boat Races
A split podium for this year’s CHANEL J12 Boat Race, as Oxford’s Women took the title for the first time in nine years and Cambridge retained the victory they’ve held since 2022 in the Blues Boat races. Today’s challenge was not just Oxford vs Cambridge, but all eight crews against the Tideway conditions.
Read on to see how it all happened!
Lengths and times to be confirmed.
Women’s Boat Race: Oxford wins
In the first race of the day, Cambridge won the coin toss and elected to start on the Surrey station with Oxford on Middlesex.
Both crews got out to a firey start and with margins too close to call, it was Oxford who edged ahead by a canvas at the end of the Embankment. By Fulham Football Club, the Dark Blues had extended to half a length.
Approaching Hammersmith Bridge, Oxford’s rhythm and momentum from their season began to kick in. The lead stretched from a length, then a length and a half, to two as they came past Hammersmith Bridge.
As the crews approached the Eyot, and the battle against the Tideway began, the Light Blues took the decision to head to the bank. The decision of stream or shelter was taken differently by both crews. Oxford initially kept trudging through the bad conditions, but quickly followed Cambridges decision to tuck in on the Middlesex bend before it was too late. Cambridge had retaken a length to the dark blues from their quick decision making.
The wind against tide was testing for both crews in this stretch, but Oxford remained calm, sharp and long in the water. They continued to build, moving out to three lengths and then four. Holding their advantage to the bandstand as both crews ducked to the Surrey side, Oxford executed the final bend and turned the tide for the first time in 9 years.
Oxford Women’s President and Olympic bronze medallist Heidi Long said: “I’m absolutely over the moon. I couldn’t be prouder of this whole team and the whole of Oxford University BC, including those that have come before us. Today is a great day and it’s always a good day to be a Dark Blue.”
Women’s Reserve Race: Cambridge wins
Blondie (Cambridge) vs Osiris (Oxford) kicked off shortly after and followed a similar suit as the Women’s Boat Race, but with the Light Blue’s showing a dominant performance over the Dark Blues.
Osiris won the coin toss and chose the Surrey side with Blondie on the Middlesex. Both crews fought a good fight out the start and stayed side by side for the first part of the race.
Stroke seat of Blondie, Eloise Etherington, said: “Conditions picked up a lot round the bend and our cox Lauren did a great job cutting in where we could”. Osiris stayed in the fight in the first half, but Cambridge broke clear and lead the dark blues through the chop.
Lucy Harvard, 2 seat expressed how challenging the conditions were: “It was very very challenging, not conditions we have every day on the Tideway, and definitely the worst conditions we’ve had leading up to this race”.
Blondie stayed long and sharp in the conditions, turning the Tideway back to Light Blue as they won their race.
Men’s Reserve Race: Cambridge wins
In one of the most dominant displays of the day, the flag dropped for the Men’s reserve race; Goldie vs Isis. Isis won the coin toss and elected for the day’s favourite station: Surrey. The Goldie crew, stroked by 24’ Blue Boat winner Matt Edge showed how his experience and how much depth the squad has.
Goldie won the race by a sizeable margin.
Men’s Boat Race: Cambridge wins by 3.5 lengths
Oxford’s Dark Blues won the Men’s Boat Race coin toss, electing to start on Surrey, leaving Cambridge’s men to take the Middlesex station.
The race was closer than the rowing community were perhaps expecting, with both crews rocketing off the start and remaining within a few lengths of each other for at least half of the 6.8km Championship Course.
Cambridge used their inside advantage early as they raced towards Fulham Football Club, and were pulling ahead before the crews reached the end of the Putney Embankment. Oxford were repeatedly warned for steering, but their gritty race plan meant they weren’t far behind the Light Blues, and began to gain on them as the boats navigated the Surrey bend.
Cambridge led through Hammersmith Bridge, but Oxford didn’t let up in the second half of the battle, and it was Cambridge’s turn to be warned for steering.
Cambridge approached Chiswick Bridge to take the final victory of the day for the Light Blues.
“The culture of rowing at Cambridge is so strong – guys in my class who don’t row have even been talking about it!” said five seat Gabriel Obholzer. “From college crews all the way to the university crews will be so happy to see we won three out of four today.”
Lightweight Women’s Boat Race: Cambridge wins
Taking place the day before the heavyweight racing, Cambridge claimed a convincing victory over Oxford in the Lightweight Women’s Boat Race.
From the start, Cambridge established their authority, taking an early lead past Thames Rowing Club and extending it through Fulham Football Club.
Despite Oxford’s determination to keep pace, challenging conditions around Hammersmith Bridge and choppy water tested both crews. Cambridge responded, gradually moving clear to a five-length advantage by Chiswick Steps.
Oxford attempted a late surge but were unable to close the gap. Cambridge crossed the line seven lengths ahead to take the win.
Lightweight Men’s Boat Race: Cambridge wins
Cambridge secured their second commanding victory of the Lightweights in the Men’s race, also crossing the line seven lengths ahead.
The contest began closely, with Cambridge taking an early half-length lead and Oxford responding to draw level by Fulham Football Club. Approaching
Hammersmith Bridge, a warning disrupted Oxford, allowing Cambridge to regain the advantage.
Choppy water challenged both crews but by Barnes Bridge, the tide had turned decisively, with Cambridge extending their lead across the line.
