The Boat Race today (4 April)

[CuthbertDibbleandGrubb]

In Ely (the Cambridgshire one not the Welsh one), not in London to avoid crowds and because of Hammersmith Bridge being closed. Only been training together for four weeks apparently. Still the usual sprinkling of post graduate 'students' who seem to be recruited for their rowing ability, within each boat.

Shorter course, virtually straight, so just seems a bit like a 3 miles version of an Olympic race.

Ely Cathedral is beautiful though.

Good races.
Great results.

I didn’t see the women’s race but wow the Cambridge men’s crew were incredible!

I watched avidly, Ely is my home town and I watched the Cambridge crews training many times as a child.

Great result for Cambridge on the home turf, feel (but not much!) for Oxford as it would’ve been a great win for them.

What great races they were! Obviously not the same as usual, but the decision to move to Ely for this year was the right one, I think.

I never understand why it's always the same two teams in the final...
🤦🏻‍♀️😉

I have to disagree about the results!

Very exciting races!

Enjoyed the races, and good results!

@PussyCatEatingEasterEggs

I never understand why it's always the same two teams in the final... 🤦🏻‍♀️😉

Ha, I came in to post exactly that. It's weird how they are the only two teams who get to the final every year.

Err, it’s the Oxford Cambridge boat race. They’re the only two teams that have ever competed in the race. It’s not a final, as such, but a stand alone race.

Joke just zooming past your head there!

@Standrewsschool

Err, it’s the Oxford Cambridge boat race. They’re the only two teams that have ever competed in the race. It’s not a final, as such, but a stand alone race.

I was thinking it was a touch of humour?

The women’s race was great, and how refreshing to see strong, tall, Amazonian women excelling at a team sport. As opposed to being presented with the usual boob jobbed, contoured, lip collagened stereotypes pouting for selfies.

I was on the edge of my seat - supporting Oxford, so the result was a disappointment, but it was top class rowing. Kudos to all four teams for achieving that standard while being so limited in the training they could do.

I am wondering if because of the Hammersmith Bridge issue it might not revert to the normal route next year.

They spoke about that earlier in the programme. They may shuffle the route down the Thames to avoid Hammersmith.

The women’s race was great, and how refreshing to see strong, tall, Amazonian women excelling at a team sport

Were all the women women?

Yes, all the women were women. Apart from one of the coxes, but they don't have to be the same sex as the rowers. You sometimes get female coxes in the men's race and vice versa.

Was it David Coleman who once famously said 'I can't see who is ahead but it's either Oxford or Cambridge'?

Totally agree the women are a brilliant role model in terms of their bodies and their natural beauty.