“Today is the real start of the race.” Game on as Boat Race gauntlet is picked up
The Boat Race is one of the staples in the British sporting calendar. Thousands flock to the banks of the Thames and millions watch around the world.
At the Presidents Challenge in central London, representatives of Oxford and Cambridge looked into the whites of their opposition’s eyes for the first time this campaign.
Tradition dictates that the President of last year’s losing crew challenges the President of last year’s winning crew to an eight oared race over the Championship Course on the agreed date, 26 March 2023.
During the 2022 instalments of the men’s and women’s races It was Oxford who were triumphant over Cambridge in the men’s race. The dark blues were victorious for the first time in six years with help coming from the likes of 2022 World Champion Brit, Charlie Elwes and Swiss international, Barnabé Delarze.
Cambridge continued building their light blue dynasty in the women’s race. They beat Oxford by 2 ½ lengths. The Cambridge crew was one of the greatest we will ever see.
The light blue ranks were bolstered by Tokyo Olympic Gold Medalist, New Zealand’s Grace Prendergast, British World Champion, Imogen Grant and Olympian, Ruby Tew. They smashed the course record in the process.
With less than two years to go until Paris 2024, this year’s squads do not have the headline names that often come immediately after the Olympics.
Instead, this year presents the next generation of athletes with an opportunity to make a name for themselves and win one of rowing’s most prestigious crowns.
“It’s a very open playing field as two seats aren’t assumed from day one,” said Cambridge President, Ollie Boyne. These thoughts were reflected by his equivalent at Oxford, Tassilo Von Mueller:
“We can’t match that level from last year but everyone is eager to show it wasn’t just down to the Olympians.”
The German U23 international emphasised how important the Olympic stars were for passing on their wisdom. They helped teach the athletes how to work hard at the top level of the sport and represent their universities to the best of their ability.
This theme of responsibility was echoed throughout the women’s squads.
“We have a lot less experience than last year so need a steeper learning curve,” said Sara Helin, President of Oxford University Women’s Boat Club.
Oxford will be hoping this curve is one that leads to success. They find themselves in a slump, having underperformed since the women’s event came to the Tideway in 2015.
Despite Helin saying that this year’s race is the only one that matters, she will be aware of the mounting pressure on the coaching staff to overturn this poor run of form.
Helin was keen to point out that ergometer scores and internal testing results are very similar to this time last year. While Oxford lost the 2022 race, they still beat the course record by three seconds.
Despite losing world class athletes, the Cambridge Women continue to benefit from their respective legacies. Grant, arguably the best lightweight athlete in the world, has resumed her own training out of the light blue boat house in Cambridge.
Prendergast, who has retired from the sport and now lives in London, is involved with some of the coaching.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for the girls to look back and talk to Grace and Imogen,” said Caoimhe Dempsey, CUBC’s Women’s President.
All four squads have recently raced at the Fours’ Head of the River. It was Cambridge who narrowly came out on top over Oxford’s crews. Attention now turns to Trials VIIIs, on the 11th and 12th of December.
The 2023 Boat Races will take place on the 26th of March.
The 77th Women’s Race at 16:00
The 168th Men’s Race at 17:00
Read next: Wingfield Sculls 2022: World Champion is triumphant on the Thames
