When is The Boat Race 2025? Date, start time, live stream, TV channel as Oxford face Cambridge in massive battle

THE big one is BACK with The Boat Race returning THIS WEEKEND!

Crews from Oxford and Cambridge universities will battle it out for bragging rights in front of thousands of fans on the River Thames – as well as millions watching from around the world.

Cambridge have dominated both the men and women’s races in recent years

The Oxford women’s team practice ahead of the big race

Last year, Cambridge earned a CLEAN SWEEP in The Boat Race as the Light Blue’s scored wins in both the men’s and women’s events.

Cambridge have been dominant in recent years, winning five of the last six men’s race and SEVEN in a row in the women’s race.

Oxford will have their work cut out to turn the tide in Putney.

This year marks the 170th edition of the men’s race, with the first one taking place way back in 1829.

The men’s race has been held annually every year since 1856, except from 1915-19 because of World War I, 1940-45 for World War II and 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is the 79th edition of the women’s race, which was first held in 1927 and has been on the calendar annually since 1964.

The build-up to this year’s Boat Race has been fraught with controversy.

Oxford maintained that Tom Ford, a gold medallist at last year’s Paris Olympics, was ineligible to row for Cambridge since he began his undergraduate studies more than 12 years ago.

The issue then grew to include THREE additional potential Cambridge rowers, all of whom are pursuing PGCE credentials, which Oxford claims makes them unable to row.

The rule came into force after 2019 when Olympic legend James Cracknell came out of retirement to help Cambridge to yet another victory.

Matt Heywood, an ex-Under-23 rowing world champion – along with Molly Foxell and Kate Cowley – were also banned alongside Ford.

Both crews will also be hoping that they will be allowed to return to the tradition oof throwing the victorious cox into the Thames.

Last year, the water was considered too contaminated to attempt the prank, but a new £5BILLION “super sewer” has reduced the quantity of sewage entering the river.

Here’s everything you need to know about the famous meeting.

When is The Boat Race 2025?

The Boat Race takes place on Sunday, April 13, with four races taking place – the main men’s and women’s races and the reserve races.

The timings are as follows:

• 1.21pm – 79th Women’s Boat Race
• 1.36pm – Women’s Reserve Race: Osiris (Oxford) vs Blondie (Cambridge)
• 1.51pm – Men’s Reserve Race: Isis (Oxford) vs Goldie (Cambridge)
• 2.21pm – 170th Men’s Boat Race

What TV channel is The Boat Race 2025 on and can it be live streamed?

• The Boat Race will be broadcast in the UK on the BBC.
• Live TV coverage begins at 12.20pm on BBC One, just over an hour after the first race.
• All the action can also be streamed on BBC iPlayer, which will also have extended post-race coverage.
• Alternatively, SunSport will live blog the action as it happens from all four races.

Who has won the most Boat Races?

Cambridge have dominated the races in recent years.

The Light Blues’ men’s crew have a narrow 87-81 over the Oxford Blues historically, having won five of the last six to extend their lead.

There has also been one dead heat in the men’s race – which saw one of the most controversial chapters in Boat Race history.

Cambridge’s women are well ahead, with a record of 48-30 from 78 races.

Who is competing for Oxford and Cambridge in The Boat Race 2025?

Oxford Women

Cox: Daniel Orton
Stroke: Heidi Long
Kyra Delray
Annie Anezakis
Sarah Marshall
Alexia Lowe
Tessa Hainig
Lilli Freischem
Bow: Sarah Polson

Cambridge Women

Cox: Jack Nicholas
Stroke: Samy Morton
Tash Morrice
Claire Collins
Carys Earl
Annie Wertheimer
Sophia Hahn
Gemma King
Bow: Kathy Hempson

Oxford Men

Cox: Tobias Bernard
Stroke: Nicholas Kohl
Nick Rusher
Tom Mackintosh
Tassilo von Mueller
James Doran
Felix Rawlinson
William O’Connell
Bow: Tom Sharrock

Cambridge Men

Cox: Ollie Boyne
Stroke: Douwe de Graaf
Luca Ferraro
James Robson
George Bourne
Gabriel Maher
Tom Macky
Noam Mouelle
Bow: Simon Hatcher

What is the course for The Boat Race 2025?

The race will once again take place on the Championship Course, a 4.2-mile stretch of the River Thames which runs from Putney Bridge to Mortlake Church.

The race has been held on the same stretch of river almost exclusively since 1864, although it was held on a longer stretch of the River Great Ouse in 2021 because of Covid-19 restrictions.

There have been 12 other occasions the race has been held elsewhere, but all but one of these came in the 19th Century.

The course takes in several notable west London landmarks, such as the Barnes Railway Bridge, Fulham’s stadium Craven Cottage and the Putney Stone.

Rowers disembark at the finish line just west of Chiswick Bridge.