Boat Race 2025 report: Cambridge University Boat Club’s men’s crew complete another clean sweep

Cambridge University Boat Club’s men’s crew completed yet another Boat Race double over old adversaries Oxford University Boat Club this afternoon.

After Cambridge’s women had recorded a comfortable eighth straight victory earlier in the afternoon, it was expected to be much more of an even affair when the two male crews locked horns.

But Cambridge made a mockery of that school of thought with a dominant display that saw them triumph by an estimated 17 seconds.

And not only that, it ensured that Cambridge completed the clean sweep, having won both Boat Races, two two reserve races and yesterday’s lightweight contests – just as they did in 2023. It is also the third year in a row in which they have won the two main races.

After a delayed start due to floating debris, a repeat of the early clash that momentarily halted the women’s race was avoided after umpire Sarah Winckless ordered the Cambridge crew to alter their path.

At that point the two crews were neck and neck having got out at around a blistering 40 strokes per minute, but it was Cambridge that made the better use of the first bend to establish an advantage.

The gap continued to grow gradually heading towards the halfway stage, leading those watching on to ponder how much energy those in the Light Blue boat had exerted.

And the response from the Cambridge crew was emphatic. They were almost four seconds to the good heading into the second half of the encounter and they continued to move away from their rivals going over the line.

It is now a hat-trick of men’s Boat Race triumphs for Cambridge, who have also won six of the last seven editions.

“It’s an indescribable feeling crossing the line ahead after so many months of hard work,” said Luca Ferraro, Cambridge’s men’s president. “I asked a lot of the guys and they really delivered.”