Key events
Big drama! Cambridge move in front of the Oxford boat and thereâs nearly a collision as the dark blues move right up behind them,
This is high quality stuff, Cambridge almost back on terms and they nudging in front? The light blues have rowed this bend so well and look to have got in front.
Cambridge continue to claw back the deficit as they go under the Hammersmith Bridge. Now at half a length.
There is a little bit of overlap between the two boats with two thirds of race left. Cambridge not out of it yet, but have a lot to do.
Oxford were heavy favourites going into the race and weâre seeing why now. The bend is about to come into Cambridgeâs favour as we near Hammersmith Bridge.
The teams are coming past Craven Cottage and Oxford look like they are pulling away again and almost breaking clear water.
Cambridge have recovered after that big early dark blue push and are sticking gamely to the task.
We’re away!
And Oxford have got off well, nearly half a length up already
A lot of international interest in the Boat Race this year â the New York Times, Fox News, ABC, CNN and numerous other international media have run stories in the buildup â but not for the reasons you might want.
River Action said testing showed E. coli levels up to 10 times higher than the level the countryâs Environment Agency considers to be âpoorâ, the bottom of four categories it has for rating bathing water areas.
Right then, the boats are coming out on to the water. The race gets underway in 10 minutes.
Womenâs race crews
Oxford: Lucy Edmunds (Pembroke), Ella Stadler (Exeter), Tessa Haining (Balliol), Claire Aitken (Oriel), Sarah Marshall (Jesus), Annie Sharp (St Antonyâs), Julia Lindsay (St Cross), Annie Anezakis (Pembroke)
Cox: Joe Gellett (St Peterâs)
Cambridge: Gemma King (St Johnâs), Joanna Matthews (St Johnâs), Iris Powell (Churchill), Jenna Armstrong (Jesus), Carina Graf (Emmanuel), Carys Earl (Gonville and Caius), Clare Hole (St Catharineâs), Megan Lee (Lucy Cavendish)
Cox: Hannah Murphy (Girton)
So todayâs order of business is the 78th running of the womenâs race begins at 2.46pm, while the 169th menâs race gets underway an hour later at 3.46pm (both GMT).
Guardian photographer Tom Jenkins has been spending time with the Cambridge University Boat Club over the past few months as they prepare for 2024âs races. His photo essay is well worth checking out for an insider look at the hard work and dedication that goes into taking on Oxford.
Preamble
Will Thames Waterâs failures know no bounds? The latest calamity of the UK privatised water industry is that the Boat Races â one of the most British of fascinations â will not feature the winnersâ traditional post-race cox dunk into the river. Alas, decades of neglect and sewage dumping by the local water company have led to race organisers issuing tough new safety guidelines to combat the dangerously high levels of E coli in the Thames. At least the rowers are smart enough to know better than ignore them.
Welcome to the annual battle of the boats between Cambridge v Oxford, this year with added excrement excitement.
Cambridge won both the womenâs and menâs race last year, continuing Oxfordâs win-less run in the womenâs race that dates back to 2016. It is a similar story of light blue dominance in the menâs race, with Cambridge having taken victory in four of the past five menâs races. In the all-time standings, Cambridgeâs men lead their series 86-81, with one recorded dead heat, and have a 47-30 advantage in the womenâs series.
However, the bookmakers have Oxford are favourites in both events this year. The dark blue menâs crew, which features GB rowers Harry Glenister and Lenny Jenkins, has enjoyed positive results so far this year, albeit Cambridge boasts more experience on the Championship Course.
Oxford are banking on experience in the womenâs race, with six of the crew having previously featured before. Cambridge, on the otherhand, count just two rowers – Jenna Armstrong and Carina Graf – among their crew from last yearâs triumph.
