The Boat Races 2025: Oxford v Cambridge – live
- Action from women’s (begins 1.21pm) and men’s races
- Get in touch! Email Alex with your thoughts
- Friends relish ‘bucket-list’ battle on opposing sides
The two teams are off! I’m reliably informed the conditions are set for a fast time – but who’s time will be fastest? We’ll know in around 18 minutes.
Word from the Guardian’s correspondent, Luke McLaughlin, who’s at Mortlake. Setting the scene perfectly …
The buildup has been contentious, to say the least, but all is calm at the Boat Race media centre, situated at Quintin Boat Club on the north side of the river (or the Middlesex station). No tense standoffs between rivals groups of fans, that I’ve seen, but then again there are no spectators on this part of the river.
In a few minutes the women’s crews will come to a standstill in the water outside after a gruelling race over four miles and 374 yards. Only one of the crews will be feeling that all the months of blood, sweat and tears have paid dividends. The post-race quotes should be fascinating given all the controversy over eligibility in recent weeks.
Continue reading...© Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA
© Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA