The Boat Race 2025: Start time, Oxford and Cambridge crews, TV channel and odds
Oxford and Cambridge do battle on the River Thames once again.
The 2025 Boat Races between Oxford and Cambridge take place on Sunday in one of Britain’s most iconic sporting events.
Oxford will be out for revenge on the four-mile stretch on the River Thames after Cambridge won the double in the past two years.
But ahead of this year’s race, there have been concerns over the safety of the water, with rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave the latest to voice his concerns.
Here’s everything you need to know about the men’s and women’s Boat Races, including the crews, how to watch on TV and race odds:
What time does the The Boat Race start on Sunday?
Both Boat Races are taking place on Sunday, April 13.
The women’s race starts at 1.20pm, with the men’s race to follow at 2.20pm.
Where does The Boat Race start and finish?
The Boat Race will take place on the Championship Course on the River Thames in London.
Crews will start at the Putney Bridge and row upstream 6.8km to the finish just before the Chiswick Bridge, passing notable landmarks like Craven Cottage stadium and Fuller’s Brewery.
This route has been used for every single Boat Race since 1845 aside from three occasions when the race was held in the opposite direction and in 2021 when it was held on the River Great Ouse in Ely due to Covid restrictions.
Best places to watch the Boat Race in London
More than 300,000 people are expected to line the banks of the Thames to watch the race.
You can also spectate from Putney Bridge, Chiswick Bridge, Hammersmith Bridge and Barnes Bridge but be warned access to the latter two will be closed from 10am.
If you fancy a slightly more comfortable viewing spot there are fanzones in Fulham and Hammersmith which are free to enter as well as many riverside pubs including the Blue Boat and the Old Ship butyou’ll have to book your place in advance.
Oxford and Cambridge crews
Oxford’s crews – who compete in dark blue – are stacked with Olympians including Heidi Long who won bronze with Team GB in the women’s eight at Paris 2024 and Tom Mackintosh won gold in the men’s event for New Zealand at Tokyo 2020.
Cambridge’s crew – who compete in light blue – features several notable names from victories past including Gemma King who will compete in her seventh Boat Race and two-time winners Noam Mouelle and Luca Ferraro.
Oxford and Cambridge crews
Oxford Women’s Team:
Daniel Orton (Cox)
Heidi Long (Stroke)
Kyra Delray
Annie Anezakis
Sarah Marshall
Alexia Lowe
Tessa Haining
Lilli Freischem
Sarah Polson (Bow)
Cambridge Women’s Team:
Jack Nicholas (Cox)
Samy Morton (Stroke)
Tash Morrice
Claire Collins
Carys Earl
Annie Wertheimer
Sophia Hahn
Gemma King
Katy Hempson (Bow)
Oxford Men’s Team:
Tobias Bernard (Cox)
Nico Kohl (Stroke)
Nick Rusher
Tom Mackintosh
Tass von Mueller
James Doran
Felix Rawlinson
Will O’Connell
Tom Sharrock (Bow)
Cambridge Men’s Team:
Ollie Boyne (Cox)
Douwe de Graaf (Stroke)
Simon Hatcher
James Robson
George Bourne
Gabriel Mahler
Luke Beever
Noam Mouelle
Luca Ferraro (Bow)
How to watch The Boat Race on TV and live stream
You can watch the Boat Races on BBC One or stream live on BBCiPlayer with coverage set to begin at 12.20pm.
2025 Boat Race odds
Women’s Race:
Cambridge – 2/9
Oxford – 3/1
Dead Heat – 100/1
Men’s Race:
Cambridge – 2/5
Oxford – 7/4
Dead Heat – 100/1
Odds courtesy of William Hill
Who has won The Boat Race the most?
There have been 169 Men’s Boat Races since the first event in 1829 with Cambridge winning 87 to Oxford’s 81, with the 1877 race the only to be declared a dead heat.
Since the first event in 1927, there have been 78 Women’s Boat Races, with Cambridge way ahead in the overall head-to-head score (48-30).
Cambridge have been the more successful team of late, winning four of the last five men’s races and the last seven women’s events.
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