Rivalry Renewed at The Presidents’ Challenge ahead of The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026

● Oxford’s President Heidi Long OLY will lead Oxford women as they attempt to reverse recent Cambridge dominance, with the Light Blues winning every Women’s Boat Race since 2017
● Cambridge Men’s President Noam Mouelle will lead Cambridge men into The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026 campaign
● The Women’s Boat Race was the most-watched women’s sports event in winter/spring 2025

At the historic Presidents’ Challenge event, at which the losing crew from the previous year’s Boat Race formally challenges the winning crew to a race, the starting gun has been fired on London’s Party By The River in the spring.

In front of an audience of London stakeholders, at London’s Somerset House, Oxford’s Tobias Bernard and Heidi Long challenged their victorious Cambridge counterparts Noam Mouelle and Gemma King.

First raced in 1829 between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026 will be on Easter Saturday – 4 April – with the Women’s Boat Race at 14.21 and the Men’s Boat Race an hour later, at 15.21.

In 2025, Cambridge stretched their winning streak in the Men’s Boat Race to a hat-trick of three in a row, recording the seventh fastest time in history despite the conditions not being favourable.

The Light Blue women took the win after a historic first-ever stop and restart in the Women’s Boat Race. The crews clashed by the Fulham Wall during the second minute of the race. Umpire Matthew Pinsent ordered an immediate stop and restart, after which the Cambridge crew – stroked by Australian Samantha Morton – rowed away to their eighth victory in a row.

This year’s Presidents’ Challenge event, held at the iconic Somerset House in London, saw the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs come together in celebration of one of British sport’s most enduring rivalries and to launch the next edition of the world-famous sporting event.

Siobhan Cassidy, Chair of The Boat Race Company, said “After nearly 200 years of rivalry, we look forward to the next chapter in our inter-University competition in 2026.

“The Boat Race only goes ahead after this formal challenge from last year’s losing crew. The President’s Challenge is a key part of our season as the Presidents challenge their counterparts on behalf of their clubs. I look forward to celebrating the drama, excitement and heritage of the event on Easter Saturday 2026.”

Cambridge University, the Light Blues, have held the upper hand with a clean sweep of both Boat Races in 2025. Oxford University, the Dark Blues, will be determined to turn the tide in 2026. The records stand at 88-81 in favour of Cambridge Men and 49-30 to Cambridge Women.

First raced by crews from Oxford and Cambridge University in 1829, The Boat Race is now one of the world’s oldest and most famous amateur sporting events, offering an unrivalled educational experience to the student athletes who take part. The famous Championship Course stretches over 4.25 miles of tidal Thames in West London between Putney and Mortlake.

ENDS

The Boat Race Company:
mediaenquiries@theboatrace.org
Annie Vernon
07385 804828

Photo credits: The Boat Race/Row360