Oxford women prevent Cambridge clean sweep of Boat Races 2026

Thousands of spectators lined the banks of a choppy Thames in London on Saturday 4 April to watch Oxford University Boat Club women deny Cambridge University Boat Club a clean sweep of the 2026 CHANEL J12 Boat Races.

Oxford took the win in the 80th Women’s Boat Race by three lengths in a time of 19:15, snapping Cambridge’s eight-race winning streak and securing their first victory since 2016. But Cambridge won the 171st Men’s Boat Race an hour later, beating Oxford by three and a half lengths in a time of 17:57.

Cambridge also won the Men’s and Women’s reserve races on Saturday after previously winning the Men’s and Women’s Lightweight Boat Races, and both veterans’ races on Friday.

Strong south-westerly winds on both Friday and Saturday made for challenging conditions in all the races. While the first two-kilometre stretch from the start to Hammersmith Bridge was reasonably flat, crews encountered white-capping waves through the middle of the course, prompting some creative coxing decisions.

In the women’s race, Oxford took an early lead down the opening straight and had opened up a small amount of clear water by the first timing marker, the Mile Post – despite being warned by umpire Clare Harvey for creeping into Cambridge’s water.

Cambridge put in a big push just after Hammersmith Bridge, preventing Oxford from opening out their lead of a couple of lengths any further. As the waves grew increasingly choppy, Cambridge cox Matt Moran steered hard into the shelter of the Surrey bank, sacrificing stream for better water.

Oxford’s stern pair of Olympic bronze medallist Heidi Long and Sarah Marshall kept a long, fluid rhythm to maintain the lead approaching Barnes Bridge, while Cambridge tucked into the bank again and slightly closed the gap. However, Oxford had done enough, holding on to their three-length lead into the finish. It was Oxford’s 31st win in 80 races, and for Marshall and bow-seat Annie Anezakis, their first win in four attempts.

Long said afterwards she felt “quite overwhelmed” with the win.

“It was just absolutely incredible, every single stroke for the whole of this year,” she added.

“I don’t think I’ve rowed in something like that for years, it was quite something. What a way to win this race,” Oxford cox Louis Corrigan said.

Cambridge were the heavy favourites for the men’s race, but Oxford brought plenty of fight to the contest. Aggressive steering from president and cox Tobias Bernard kept the Dark Blues in contention in the first kilometre, although Cambridge took a slight lead.

Ciarán Hayes – the first Irishman to umpire the Boat Race – warned Oxford repeatedly and then Cambridge as they threatened to clash blades, but Cambridge continued to extend their lead and had clear water just before Hammersmith Bridge. From then on they gradually opened out their advantage, although Oxford were never completely out of touch, and Hayes was kept busy with his flag as the crews headed into the choppier water.

Cambridge’s cox Sammy Houdaigui kept his crew tighter into the bank around the final bend, ensuring victory for his men. It was Cambridge’s fourth win in a row, and the fourth for president Noam Mouelle, plus the 89th overall for the Light Blues.

“We had a super-hard race, everyone was blown halfway through the race, but we’ve done the job early so no problem, we just had to make no mistake and this was what we did,” Mouelle said once he had got out of the boat.

Several of the Boat Race rowers will now be heading to trials ahead of the 2026 international rowing season, either at senior or under-23 level, while also completing the academic year at their respective universities.

Photo Credit: The Boat Race