Oxford Looking for Revenge in 2024 Boat Races

At the 2023 Oxford Vs. Cambridge University Boat Race, Cambridge completed a “clean sweep”, winning all of the races. With this year’s races now just a few weeks away, it is clear that Oxford are out for revenge.

Over the last few weeks, the Coaches from the two universities have tested out various crew formations in a series of “fixtures” racing selected opposition who will challenge their crews. The races, over various sections of the Championship Course, have included the usual assortment of drama, rough conditions, clashes and disqualifications, all designed to best prepare the crews for race day, on the 30 March 2024.

In the first round of fixtures, Cambridge went up against Dutch National crews and whilst the Cambridge men managed to win both of their pieces, the Cambridge women lost on all three occasions. Meanwhile, Oxford’s women raced against local university, Oxford Brookes, only managing to win one out of the three pieces. The second round of fixtures saw Cambridge women suffer defeats to locals Thames Rowing Club whilst Oxford Brookes this time got the better of the Cambridge men. Oxford’s men faced some dramatic racing against the world-famous Leander Club which saw Leander disqualified in the first piece, the win being awarded to Oxford. When Leander raced Cambridge a few weeks later, it was level in the first piece with Leander taking the win in the second.

With the fixtures over for another year, and just a few weeks to go until this year’s races, the formal crew announcement took place last night at Battersea Power Station in London. As is often the case in an Olympic year, the crews contain lower-than-usual number of international rowers, but there are plenty of experienced British rowers among this year’s line-ups.

The Cambridge women’s crew will be stroked by Megan Lee, who stroked the USA women’s eight to gold at last year’s World Rowing U23 Championships. Lee will be joined in the crew by Carina Graf from Germany, who has two consecutive boat race wins to her name. Graf has won twice with Jenna Armstrong, also from the USA, and this year’s President, who will sit in the four seat. Keen for a third win, Armstrong said; “Crossing the finish line first the past two years was the most incredible feeling. I would love nothing more than to experience that one more time!” The crew will also be steered by an American, Hannah Murphy.

The Oxford Women’s squad has a new Chief Coach this year, Allan French, who is clearly keen to put an end to the six consecutive wins that Cambridge women have had. The crew selected by French includes Canadian Julia Lindsay, who will contest her third boat race, yet to have a win. Lindsay didn’t trial last year and neither did Australian Annie Anezakis who, on being asked what a win would mean to her, responded “It means enough to have brought me out retirement”. The crew is bolstered by the likes of Lucy Edmunds, who won silver in the women’s eight for Great Britain at the 2022 World Rowing U23 Championships, and also three returners from last year’s Oxford crew, Sarah Marshall, Claire Aitken and this year’s President, Ellie Stadler, all of whom will be out for revenge.

Meanwhile, the Oxford Men will once again be led by Sean Bowden, a “veteran” of the Boat Race, having been the Chief Coach since 1997. This crew selected by Bowden arguably contains some of the most notable names. Leonard (Lenny) Jenkins has had an outstanding career to date, representing both New Zealand and Great Britain. He has picked up international medals at Junior, U23 and senior level, most recently World Cup gold in the British men’s four. Meanwhile, Harry Glenister, who is studying for an MBA, as a transition from elite sport to the corporate world, was a familiar figure in the Great Britain Rowing Team from 2013 to 2022 Glenister also competed on the World Stage at Junior, U23 and Senior level. Fellow British rower, James Doran, will return for his second boat race. Doran has won multiple medals at European Rowing Championships. German athlete Elias Kun cites among his proudest rowing achievements his two medals at World Rowing Junior Championships and having “the biggest bench press of Northeastern Men’s Rowing.” The crew will be coxed by William Denegri, who steered the British men’s four to gold at the 2022 World Rowing U23 Championships.

Cambridge’s mens crew features an impressive five returners from last year’s winning boat, with plenty of pedigree amongst them. Former lightweight Matt Edge will sit in the stroke seat and will be joined in the stern by fellow-Brit, Luca Ferraro, who also sat in the seven seat in the British eight that won gold at last year’s World Rowing U23 Championships. Meanwhile, Frenchman Noam Mouelle, who represented his country at the 2022 World Rowing U23 Championships will take the six seat. American Kenneth Coplan will sit at bow. Copan claimed silver for the USA in the eight at the 2021 World Rowing U23 Championships, and bronze in the coxed four at the 2016 World Rowing Junior Championships.

This year’s races will take place on Saturday 30 March with the women’s race at 14:46 GMT and the men’s race at 15:46 GMT. You can find out more about how to follow on the Boat Race website.