2026 Fixture Series: Cambridge sharpen form against top domestic competition
21-22 February 2026 saw our crews take on a series of top domestic competitors, including Oxford Brookes University and Leander Rowing Club, in a demanding weekend of Tideway racing. The river served up the full spectrum of conditions, and our athletes rose to the challenge with composure, resilience, and real racing intent. What followed was a set of hard‑fought fixtures that showcased both the depth of the squad and the determination driving them into the final stages of training and selection ahead of The Boat Race on 3-4 April 2026. Thank you to everyone for a weekend of great racing.
Our fixtures would be possible without the support of our alumni, volunteers, and host families – thank you.
Please note that all crews remain tentative until formally announced on 12 March (Blue Boats), 16 March (Reserve Crews), and 17 March (Lightweight Crews).
Men’s ‘A’ v Oxford Brookes ‘A’
Result: Cambridge by 7 lengths
Crew:
Cox: Sammy Houdaigui
Str: Freddy Breuer
7: Kyle Fram
6: Lexi Maclean
5: Gabriel Obholzer
4: Simon Nunayon
3: Will Klipstine
2: Patt Wild
Bow: Simon Hatcher
Race Report: Kyle Fram
Firstly, I want to say thank you to all the fans and supporters who came out and kept up with the race from afar, and a huge thank you to the host families who house us for these weekends down in Putney, as well as King’s School and Crabtree Boat Club for their hospitality.
We had a taste of the conditions on the far side of Putney bridge during our warmup, with a flood tide against a stiff headbreeze. The strong land water prevented racing beyond Barnes, so we forewent the standard two short-course piece format for a single shot Putney to Bandstand dual race.
The race went off without a hitch, with us lining up on Middlesex and starting under quickstart, well administered by Umpire Sarah Winckless. We quickly jumped out to a small margin, and under repeated steering warnings surged to about a length by the Black Buoy, narrowly avoiding contact. Kudos to cox Sammy Houdaigui for great racing awareness. Once we broke open water, our opponent swung hard to cut the Fulham corner. Without gaining or sacrificing significant margin from their manoeuvre, we continued to press a small lead down the Crabtree reach into a larger advantage. Conditions significantly worsened past Hammersmith and became quite choppy around St. Paul’s, but a healthy crowd on the bridge and banks spurred us to a reasonable 3-4 lengths of open water.
Sammy kept us composed down to the worst of the conditions past the Blue Doors and through the Eyot. Strokeman Freddy Breuer continued to drive a steady rhythm and we managed to extend our margin through the latter half of the race.
Well raced to Oxford Brookes and best of luck in your upcoming fixtures!
Women’s ‘A’ v Leander ‘A’
Result: Cambridge by 2 lengths
Crew:
Cox: Matt Moran
Str: Aidan Wrenn-Walz
7: Mia Freischem
6: Camille VanderMeer
5: Toni Galland
4: Carys Earl
3: Charlotte Ebel
2: Izzy Campbell
Bow: Gemma King
Race report: Izzy Campbell
In our second fixture of the year, the Blue Boat raced a gutsy piece against Leander A from the Boat Race start to Chiswick Steps. Though Cambridge lost the coin toss, Leander kindly let Cambridge choose the Surrey station.
Right off the start, Leander jumped Cambridge and the boats were bow-to-stern. However, Cambridge was able to stay internal, drilling in the primary focuses and establishing a cohesive rhythm after 1500 meters. From there, Cambridge was able to walk back substantially and the 4.2km piece ended with the Blue Boat up by two lengths.
Reflecting on the fixture, we know what we need to improve on and what we can continue to hammer down. We want to give out a special thank you to Leander for coming down to race us and we look forward to racing the Dutch the week after next.
Men’s ‘B’ v Oxford Brookes ‘B’
Result: Cambridge by 6 lengths
Crew:
Cox: Freya Jenkinson
Stroke: Matt Edge
Seven: Luke Beever
Six: Alex Finger
Five: Leonard Brahms
Four: Noam Mouelle
Three: Calvin Tarczy
Two: George Dickinson
Bow: Max Deering
Race Report: Matt Edge
Blanketed by grey skies, the Tideway delivered its signature staging for the meeting of Cambridge and Brooks’ men’s 2nd VIIIs. Heavy rain swelled the river and damped the flood tide while gusting winds blew in from never quite the same direction. There was even a sailing race thrown in for good measure. Undeterred, the crews drew under Putney Bridge with Cambridge having won the toss taking the Surrey station for a single piece to the Bandstand.
Both crews got off to a clean start despite the Uber Boat wash still sloshing the crews around at Putney pier. Holding pace from the start through the bounce, Cambridge began to move down the line of boats, taking a half-length advantage passing the end of the Embankment. Sensing a slackened tide (and a misplaced sailing boat), Brookes cut a tight line round their bend under Craven Cottage – Cambridge followed close to cover (and avoid the river traffic). Exiting the bend, Cambridge had nullified the Brookes advantage and held a three-quarter length lead with both crews deep to Middlesex. A nervy few moments followed down the Crabtree reach as the narrow overlap taunted Cambridge cox Freya Jenkinson with the risk of Brookes charging to force the race quickly back to the stream. Cooler rudders prevailed as Brookes chose to push up to get on better terms and gradually steering the race over. However, the straight shot and roughening waters as launches raced past buffeting the crews, gave Cambridge the advantage breaking to clear water past the mile post.
Cambridge continued to pull away approaching their bend, with Brookes cutting over their wash to take a tighter Surrey line at Harrods and continuing on their inside around the long bend. Again, Cambridge had to hold their nerve as wind and waves rolled in at the top of the course and a single catch of the waves could put Brookes back in contact on the inside, denying them their advantage and sending them into the rough on the outside. Instead, with each round of wash and home crowd cheers for their bow three past St Paul’s, Cambridge pulled away further gaining a length clear by the Eyot.
With the race biting, Cambridge drove on to the line as Brookes ran out of moves and had to cut back to Middlesex to take the advantage of their last bend. Taking it up for home, Cambridge started marching away to claim a six length victory at the Bandstand. As ever, Brookes proved fierce racers. An excellent test and one that was particularly sweet for Cambridge veterans Luke Beever, Noam Mouelle, and Matt Edge, who in their combined 15 years racing for Cambridge, took their first win in a fixture with Brookes.
Women’s ‘B’ v Leander ‘B’
Result: Leander by 1/4 length
Crew:
Cox: Lauren Schneiderman
Str: Eloise Etherington
7: Lyndsey Bryden
6: Mathilda Kitzmann
5: Alex Wiley
4: Ellie Sillar
3: Nicky Wojtania
2: Lucy Havard
Bow: Fizz McNally
Race Report: Nicky Wojtania
The second fixture of the year gave the provisional Blondie crew a valuable opportunity to consolidate and implement the changes made over the past few weeks of training and during camp. The fixture took place from the Boat Race start to Chiswick Steps. After several weeks of cold weather (and even snow!), it was a welcome change to race in bright sunshine. However, the wind and heavy wash from surrounding boats provided a true Tideway test and a chance to sharpen our rhythm under race day conditions.
With Cambridge on Middlesex, both crews started off strong and were level passing Thames. Leander began to edge ahead approaching Fulham. In response, Cambridge stayed composed, keeping the focus internal and committing to the rhythm. Around Harrods, significant wash from Middlesex disrupted the water, but Cambridge held firm and began to chip away at the margin heading into Hammersmith.
Coming out from under the bridge, both crews battled through rough water, charging into the waves. Passing by St. Paul’s, Cambridge settled into a long, controlled rhythm that allowed them to press back on Leander. In the final 500m, Cambridge committed to their move, surging forward and reducing the margin to a quarter of a length in a tight, hard-fought finish.
It was an exciting day of racing and a valuable opportunity for side-by-side racing on the Tideway. Thank you to the umpires, to all our alumni and supporters, to Thames for the use of the boathouse, and to Leander for racing us!
Lightweight Men v Oxford Brookes ‘D’
Result: Brookes by 1 1/2 lengths
Crew:
Cox: Alex Taylor
Str: Archie Smith
7: James Richards
6: Freddie Challacombe
5: Josh Moore
4: Nikita Mohr
3: Peter Crossley
2: Jeremy Wilkinson
Bow: Victor Viennot-Bourgun
Race Report: James Richards and Peter Crossley
For the second instalment in the 2026 fixture series, the CUBC Lightweight Men took on Oxford Brookes for a single piece from the Boat Race start line to the bandstand. Cambridge won the toss and chose the Middlesex station.
Eager to show their speed, Cambridge powered out of the blocks to a slim lead of a few seats. As both crews stepped out onto their race rhythm, the lightweight men capitalised on their early station advantage to push their lead out to around a length by the Harrods Depository. As the crews approached Hammersmith, Brookes made a strong move and used the long Surrey bend to regain momentum. The crews drew level, exchanging blows until Brookes finally managed to break clear around the Chiswick Steps and win the piece by a length and a half.
The fixture was a valuable learning experience against strong opposition, giving us determination and focus to take back to our training at Ely. Our eyes are firmly on the London fixture on the 8th of March, which we will face with renewed aggression and determination.
Lightweight Women v Latymer Upper School BC
Result: Cambridge by 6 lengths
Crew:
Cox: Lidya Acar
Str: Bella Munro
7: Hannah Major
6: Helena Olandi
5: Jay Manson-Whitton
4: Hannah Warren
3: Olivia Wright
2: Kate Oglethorpe
Bow: Lauren Allegretti
Race Report: Lauren Allegretti
The CUBC lightweight women returned to the Tideway this weekend for their second fixture of the season, lining up against Latymer Upper School BC in conditions that tested both nerve and technical skill. With heavy water and strong winds dictating the schedule, racing was limited to one all-out piece from Putney Bridge to the end of the Eyot, leaving little room for error.
Latymer delivered an impressive and committed start, rating high and attacking the opening strokes with intent. Cambridge, however, met their challenge head on, responding to the early pressure with conviction. The crew found their length quickly, settling into a controlled but relentless cadence that immediately bit back. Guided confidently by cox Lidya Acar, the boat held a clean line along the Middlesex bend, converting early inches into clear water between the crews.
After Hammersmith, the conditions deteriorated further, demanding real composure from both sides. Cambridge responded with resilience, keeping their rhythm disciplined and finishes clean despite the chop. Refusing to let the conditions disrupt their flow, they continued to edge further ahead before committing to a final push, finishing the race six lengths clear of Latymer.
The squad now returns to Ely with confidence and clarity, building toward WeHoRR this March with tangible progress under their belts.
Men’s ‘C’ v Oxford Brookes ‘C’
Result: Cambridge by 1/2 length
Crew:
Cox: Chiara Dell’Orfanello
Str: Milo Taylor
7: Joe Travis
6: Raphael Berz
5: Kyle Howe
4: Thomas Connor
3: Alex Geddes
2: Alex Myhill
Bow: Orlando Morley
Race report: Joe Travis
Following a dynamic start from both crews, the boats were bow-ball to bow-ball coming past Putney Embankment. Navigating tricky waters and an initially unfavourable Surrey bend, CUBC were wary of the famed Brookes push at the start of the second minute of the race. In order to counteract this, and to remain on even terms with Brookes who threatened to move on Cambridge, cox Chiara called a decisive move of looseness and a punchy swing. After the initial bend had exhausted its advantage to the Middlesex crew, it became apparent that Cambridge had a slightly faster racing speed, and they started to inch out seat after seat. Aggressive steering from the Brookes cox ensued, followed by a spell of clashes, which saw the half-length lead gained by Cambridge reduce slightly at around the mile post.
Confident in our race pace, and the Surrey bend advantage awaiting us, Chiara urged us to remain patient until our bend could take effect, at which point we established a more commanding lead. At St Paul’s School, contact was broken, and the lead was extended steadily as a blustering headwind beat down upon both of the crews. With a significant advantage being driven out after the Chiswick Eyot, Chiara was able to move across Brookes, nullifying any potential advantage of the Middlesex bend to come, and Cambridge were able to maintain their lead of 1/2 lengths of clear water until the umpire called down at the finish line of the Band Stand.
We must thank Matt Heywood for his coaching of this crew at limited warning in the week leading up to the race, as well as Felix Craig-McFeely for umpiring the race. This was an incredibly valuable experience for Cambridge’s 3rd VIII, who were able to both showcase the admirable depth of this program as well as offering them a chance to race head-to-head on the championship course.
Women’s ‘C’ v London Rowing Club ‘C’
Result: First piece to Cambridge easily, second piece to LRC
Crew:
Cox: Emelie Eldracher
Str: Phoebe Pryce
7: Kat Finney
6: Anna Golbus
5: Mia Loxley
4: AnnaLinda Elvre
3: Charlotte Rudd
2: Alice Bastianelli
Bow: Bea Hagues
Race report: Charlotte Rudd
After a disappointing erg primer due to the tide state, the Women’s 3rd VIII finally hit the water raring to go. Some smashing practice starts boosted our confidence and the sun even showed its face in our warm up. We paddled up on Surrey under Putney Bridge itching to get started. As soon as the umpires flag was down we powered away from the start ramping the rate up to a solid 38 before settling down to our sustainable length. By the time we’d finished our start and got a chance to look up we were half a length up and walking still. Emelie drove each pair to take their opposing seats as the Middlesex bend began. They cut the corner but we stayed on course, determined to seek out the fastest water in the centre. The bend gave way to flatter water out of the wind and we capitalised on it driving our rhythm higher and further away from our opposition. As we approached Harrods’ with a solid 2 1/2 length lead we began a push to Hammersmith, intending to cement our dominant position on our advantageous bend. Sadly the umpire decided we were too far ahead and called us to a stop for a restart.
We switched stations with LRC given a length head-start and readied ourselves for another battle. The second start burned in our already tired quads but we drove the boat onto pace quickly and aggressively – our best start of the day! In the first 15 strokes we took the length off them, settling into our rhythm with overlap. However, as we came under Hammersmith the conditions changed becoming windy, choppy and swirly as we reached the beginning of where the tide still hadn’t changed upriver. We managed to maintain contact with LRC but struggled to gain any more ground while fighting the conditions, the boat and ourselves. Our rhythm wasn’t as commanding as it had started and every gust knocked our confidence as we approached the Eyot. As Emelie began to call our final move into the finish we responded with our legs and hips accelerating to a strong finish a length down. While the second piece wasn’t quite what we were hoping for our legs and definitely shoulders fought hard to keep us driving through to the end.