The Boat Race, one of the world’s oldest amateur sporting events, will once again unfold along the historic 6.8 km Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake. Clare Harvey will umpire the 80th Women’s Boat Race, while Ciarán Hayes will oversee the 171st Men’s Boat Race.
Channel 4’s debut coverage of The Boat Race will be presented by Clare Balding, whose decades of experience in presenting global sporting events include the Summer Paralympic Games for Channel 4. Speaking at last week’s crew announcement, Balding reflected, “The Boat Race is a showcase of how education and sport go hand in hand.” She will be joined on Race Day by award‑winning presenter and former ParalympicsGB wheelchair basketball player Ade Adepitan. Alex Jacques leads commentary, supported by Olympic gold medallist Martin Cross and Olympic silver medallist Jess Eddie, with three‑time Olympic champion Pete Reed OBE providing expert analysis.
We are also pleased to welcome Times Radio as the new official radio partner of The Boat Race, with coverage accessible worldwide. Jane Mulkerrins will present a special edition of her Saturday afternoon programme live from the riverside in Putney between 1pm and 4pm.
Turning the Tide, The Boat Race’s annual documentary series, also returns this year. Episodes 1 and 2 are available now, with Episode 3 to follow on 23 March.
Whether you are watching from Putney or tuning in from across the world, we hope you’ll be cheering on the crews on 3-4 April.
🗓️ Friday 3 April
Women’s Lightweight Coin toss | 10:20
Men’s Lightweight Coin toss | 11:20
Women’s Veterans’ Coin toss | 12:20
Youth Boat Race | 12:30
Men’s Veterans’ Coin toss | 12:50
Women’s Lightweight Walk out | 13:00
Women’s Lightweight Boat Race | 13:50
Men’s Lightweight Walk out | 13:50
Women’s Veterans Boat Race | 14:05
Men’s Veterans Boat Race | 14:35
Men’s Lightweight Boat Race | 14:50
Lightweight Trophy Presentations | 17:15
Cambridge Supporters Drinks at the Duke’s Head, all welcome, no RSVP required | 17:30
🗓️ Saturday 3 April
Morning prepaddles | 7:45-8:30
Women’s Crew Arrivals (Blue Boat and Blondie) at Thames Rowing Club | 11:53-59
Women’s Coin toss opposite London Rowing Club | 12:10
Women’s Reserve Coin toss opposite LRC | 12:15
Men’s Crew Arrival at Thames Rowing Club | 12:35
Goldie Crew Arrival at KCS | 12:40
Men’s Coin toss opposite LRC | 12:50
Men’s Reserve Coin toss opposite LRC | 13:10
Women’s Walk out at Thames | 13:36
Blondie Walk out at Thames | 13:46
Goldie Walk out at KCS | 14:06
80th Women’s Boat Race | 14:21
Women’s Reserve Race (Blondie v Osiris) | 14:31
Men’s Walk out at Thames | 14:36
Men’s Reserve Race (Goldie v Isis) | 14:51
171st Men’s Boat Race | 15:21
Trophy Presentations, Mortlake | 15:50-16:15
The Boat Race Dinner | Arrival from 7:15
Men’s Blue Boat
Eight rowers, one cox: united on the Tideway. Meet the athletes selected to race in the 2026 Cambridge Men’s Blue Boat.
| Seat | Name | College | Course | Nationality |
| Cox | Sammy Houdaigui | Fitzwilliam | MPhil in Real Estate Finance | American |
| Stroke | Freddy Breuer | Lucy Cavendish | MPhil Energy Technologies | German |
| 7 | Will Klipstine | Hughes Hall | MPhil Energy Technologies | American |
| 6 | Alexander McClean | Hughes Hall | MPhil in Management | British, Australian |
| 5 | Gabriel Obholzer | Peterhouse | MPhil in Modern British History | British |
| 4 | Patrick Wild | Peterhouse | Engineering BA and MEng | British |
| 3 | Kyle Fram | Lucy Cavendish | MPhil Advanced Computer Science | American |
| 2 | Noam Mouelle (President) | Hughes Hall | PhD Physics | French |
| Bow | Simon Hatcher | Peterhouse | PhD Engineering | American |
Reflecting on the moment he most anticipates, bowman Simon Hatcher said:
“I cannot wait for those first opening seconds of the race, when the flag drops and a huge roar rises from the embankment and you can finally channel all of the excitement and aggression and confidence and fear and energy into making the boat fly.”
Chief Men’s Coach Rob Baker added:
“This year’s crew has really developed over the last few weeks. We have a lot of new athletes in the team and the crew is clicking together really well. We still have one fixture to go — the crew from Leander will include the three Cambridge Blues from the British World Champion four — and this last race is the final piece before we face Oxford on 4 April.”
Women’s Blue Boat
The wait is over. Introducing the Cambridge Women’s Blue Boat who will wear Light Blue with pride in The Boat Race 2026.
| Seat | Name | College | Course | Nationality |
| Cox | Matt Moran | Emmanuel | Master of Finance (MFin) | British, Swiss |
| Stroke | Aidan Wrenn-Walz | Fitzwilliam | MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience | American |
| 7 | Mia Freischem | Darwin | PhD in Surgery | German |
| 6 | Camille VanderMeer | Peterhouse | Masters in Business Administration | American |
| 5 | Antonia Galland | Peterhouse | MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration | German |
| 4 | Carys Earl | Gonville and Caius | Medicine MB, BChir | British, Swiss |
| 3 | Charlotte Ebel | Newnham | MPhil in Politics and International Studies | American, German |
| 2 | Isobel Campbell | Hughes Hall | MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience | British, American, Canadian |
| Bow | Gemma King (President) | St John’s | PhD in Stem Cell Biology | British |
For Carys Earl, being named to the Blue Boat is not just an achievement, but a moment filled with pride and anticipation:
“It is a great honour to have been selected to represent Cambridge again in this year’s Blue Boat. I am so excited to compete alongside all my incredible teammates in this historical Boat Race on 4 April. The whole squad, our alumni, supporters and the huge crowds make race day such an amazing experience – I can’t wait!”
Said Chief Women’s Coach Paddy Ryan:
“We have a talented squad, the deepest level of talent in my tenure, with athletes who have pushed each other hard to earn this opportunity. As we head into the final weeks, I’m excited to see what this group can deliver on race day.”
Goldie
Here they are: the crew in gold. Goldie 2026 is ready to take on the Tideway.
| Seat | Name | College | Course | Nationality |
| Cox | Freya Jenkinson | Selwyn | BA in Modern and Medieval Languages (French and Italian) | British |
| Stroke | Matt Edge | St Catharine’s | PhD in Chemistry | British |
| 7 | Luke Beever | Emmanuel | MEng Aerospace Engineering | British |
| 6 | Simon Nunayon | Emmanuel | PhD Clinical Neurosciences | British, Nigerian |
| 5 | Leonard Brahms | Wolfson | MPhil Econ History | German |
| 4 | Alex Finger | Wolfson | MPhil in Architecture and Urban Studies | German |
| 3 | Calvin Tarczy | Wolfson | MPhil in Film and Screen | British, Canadian |
| 2 | George Dickinson | Hughes Hall | MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development | British, American |
| Bow | Joe Travis | Jesus | BA Music | British |
Shared strokeman Matt Edge upon his selection:
“It’s very exciting to be back in Goldie this year. The crew is one of the strongest Goldies I’ve seen and we’ve made great progress so far. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do in the final run into the race!”
Blondie
Built on grit, bonded by gold. Meet your 2026 Blondie crew, representing Cambridge in the Women’s Reserve Race.
| Seat | Name | College | Course | Nationality |
| Cox | Lauren Schneiderman | St Edmund’s | MPhil in Obesity, Endocrinology and Metabolism | American |
| Stroke | Eloise Etherington | Gonville and Caius | BA Natural Sciences | British |
| 7 | Lyndsey Bryden | Peterhouse | MPhil in Global Risk and Resilience | Canadian |
| 6 | Mathilda Kitzmann | Christ’s | MPhil Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management | German |
| 5 | Alex Wiley | Jesus | MPhil in Obesity Endocrinology and Metabolism | Canadian |
| 4 | Ellie Sillar | Emmanuel | BA Natural Sciences | British |
| 3 | Nicky Wojtania | Jesus | PhD in Biotechnology | American, Polish, Canadian |
| 2 | Lucy Havard | Gonville and Caius | PhD History | British |
| Bow | Fizz McNally | Sidney Sussex | Medicine MB, BChir | British |
Said stroke Eloise Etherington:
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to race in Blondie again this year with another group of inspiring women! Everyone has been so committed to the project, while also having a great time together, and with some strong results behind us, we’re excited to take on Osiris on April 4th.”
Men’s Lightweights
Light on the scale, mighty on the water. Introducing the 2026 Men’s Lightweights.
| Seat | Name | College | Course | Nationality |
| Cox | Alex Taylor | Clare | Masters in Engineering | British |
| Stroke | Archie Smith | King’s | BA in Mathematics | British |
| 7 | James Richards | Girton | Engineering BA and MEng | British |
| 6 | Frederick Challacombe | St Catharine’s | Medicine | British |
| 5 | Josh Moore (President) | Queens’ | MPhil in Literature, Culture and Thought | British |
| 4 | Nikita Mohr | Peterhouse | MPhil in Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease | German |
| 3 | Peter Crossley | Sidney Sussex | Engineering BA and MEng | British, American |
| 2 | Jeremy Wilkinson | Churchill | PhD in Particle Physics | South African, German, Irish |
| Bow | Victor Viennot-Bourgin | Darwin | MPhil in Nulcear Energy | French |
President Josh Moore reflected on what the honour of representing Cambridge means to the squad:
‘It’s a huge privilege to represent the university, this club and the group of guys that have become the CUBC lightweight men’s squad this year. We are all very excited to be racing in The Boat Race and are fully focussed on our final preparations. We will be wearing our Cambridge Zephyrs with pride down the track on the 3rd April.’
Women’s Lightweights
Tough and light, ready to ignite. Introducing your 2026 Women’s Lightweights.
| Seat | Name | College | Course | Nationality |
| Cox | Lidya Acar | Wolfson | MPhil in Digital Humanities | American, Turkish |
| Stroke | Bella Munro | Peterhouse | BA History | British |
| 7 | Hannah Major | Pembroke | BA in Medical Sciences | British |
| 6 | Helena Olandi (President) | Hughes Hall | Medicine | Italian, British, Canadian |
| 5 | Jay Manson-Whitton | Peterhouse | Maths Part III (Mmath) | British |
| 4 | Zara Bek | Trinity | BA Classics | British |
| 3 | Olivia Wright | Emmanuel | BA in Biological Natural Sciences | British |
| 2 | Hannah Warren | Jesus | PhD in Chemistry | British |
| Bow | Lauren Allegretti | Lucy Cavendish | PhD Clinical Neuroscience | American |
In her message to the selected crew, President Helena Olandi shared,
“To represent Cambridge in the Lightweight Boat Race is an unmatched opportunity. It is the privilege to ignite the waters with the light blue flame entrusted to us, fuelled by the spirit of those who have fought valiantly before, and the whispered dreams of those yet to come. For one last time, our hearts and oars together as one, we will honour each other, the journey we’ve shared, and the legacy of the Cambridge Lightweight Women.”
