Key events
Oxford’s lead is worth more than six seconds at the Hammersmith Bridge. That losing run is surely coming to an end.
Oxford are moving closer to the Surrey side as they lead by a length. Hammersmith Bridge comes into view.
Oxford’s lead grows as we pass Craven Cottage – Cambridge are four and a half seconds behind at the Mile Post.
Harvey warns Oxford multiple times as the boats approach Craven Cottage. Cambridge aren’t letting the Dark Blues pull away.
Oxford make an electric start, nipping ahead immediately.
Away we go!
Clare Harvey, the umpire, brings down the red flag. The women’s race begins!
Cambridge women won the coin toss and they’ll start on the Surrey side.
Luke McLaughlin
The women’s crews are in position, side-by-side on the water. Our skipper says there has been clearance for the race to start on time, so we should be off in about five minutes. Someone alongside me in the boat, who has forgotten more about rowing than I know, says: “I really think Oxford could do it …”
As the TV coverage focuses on Heidi Long, who won bronze at the Paris Olympics, here’s what she had to say to Luke, speaking movingly about her late father.
I’d get in the car sometimes and he’d be like: ‘How was rowing?’ and I’d just give a two-word answer, probably like most teenagers. And honestly right now, what I would do for him to just pick me up, and just chat about rowing.
I love being able to talk about him because he was such an incredible man. So much positive energy. He cared about so many people and he fought so hard through his disease. I can do 10 more strokes in a rowing race. That’s nothing compared to what he did.
Luke McLaughlin
Stephan Freischem – father of Mia Freischem (Cambridge) and Lilli Freischem (Oxford), speaking at the start outside Thames Rowing Club in Putney.
He resides in Cologne, Germany and works as a patent attorney.
Split allegiance today … actually on the one side it’s calming, because we know one of our daughters will win. On the other side, it’s just amazing.
The sisters’ race is all over the media in Germany. It’s in Der Spiegel – the magazines and newspapers are full of it. I’ve never seen that before. The German people are interested in the Boat Races as an English tradition, but the country usually doesn’t pay that much attention. It is very exciting to see how the sisters’ news boosts the news about the Boat Race.
It wasn’t a sacrifice [to support his daughters]. We have always tried to raise independent kids, interested kids. And we did not think that we would be so successful. They are interested, they are competitive, and they are nice people. So we are in heaven, actually. We didn’t expect to be so successful.
They are very supportive of each other.
Our man on the ground is Luke McLaughlin … and, well, he’s watching from a boat.
Just departed on the media launch for the women’s race. Lifejackets on. Plenty of excitement on the riverbank with big cheers from the gathering crowds for the Oxford and Cambridge crews … Under normal circumstances I am in the media room at the finish – this is a lot more fun.
It’s sister taking on sister: yep, Oxford’s Lilli Freischem against younger sibling Mia. Mia is doing a PhD in surgery and, as noted on the event’s official website, “hadn’t heard of the Boat Race until my sister competed in the reserve race in 2023”. Quite the flex if she goes on to beat Lilli.
The women’s crews
Oxford: Louis Corrigan (Cox), Heidi Long (Stroke), Sarah Marshall, Esther Briz Zamorano, Kyra Delray, Julietta Camahort, Lilli Freischem, Emily Molins, Annie Anezakis
Cambridge: Matt Moran (Cox), Aidan Wrenn-Walz (Stroke), Mia Freischem, Camille Vandermeer, Antonia Galland, Carys Earl, Charlotte Ebel, Isobel Campbell, Gemma King
Please do get in touch if you’re lining up by the Thames or watching on from home. It’s a cloudy day in London but the rain looks to be staying away.
Here’s a reminder of the course the crews must navigate. We begin in Putney for a 6.8 km-long race, passing Craven Cottage, Hammersmith Bridge, Chiswick Eyot and Barnes Bridge, finishing before Chiswick Bridge. If you’re ahead at Hammersmith Bridge, you’re pretty much nailed on to win.
Preamble
Welcome to the latest edition of the sports day that got a little out of hand. The Boat Races – contested by crews from Oxford and Cambridge universities – are back, nearly 200 years on from the first men’s race.
The buildup has been less eventful than last year: yes, how can we forget the PGCE eligibility hoo-ha and those high E coli levels. This time round the focus is on a fresh look, with Channel 4 taking over coverage from the BBC. Reality TV’s Jamie Laing is one new presenter. We wait to see if this gets down with the kidz.
As for the actual contest, well, it hasn’t really been one for a while. Cambridge’s men have won six of the last seven races and look primed to make it four successive victories. It’s worse for Oxford’s women, who have lost eight in a row. But their long wait looks like it’ll end today, with the Dark Blues – led by Olympic medallist Heidi Long – starting as favourites. The women’s race begins at 2.21pm BST, the men’s an hour later. Get in, we’re going rowing.
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