15 hours ago Dec 22, 2025HTBS

Countdown To The 2026 Boat Race: Cambridge Trial Eights

Thames Rowing Club hosted the officials and supporters of this year’s Trial Eights.

22 December 2025

By Tim Koch

Tim Koch follows in the wake of Boat Race hopefuls.

The simplest explanation of the internal races known as the Oxford – Cambridge Boat Race Trial Eights is that the last sixteen rowers and two coxswains contending for the men’s or women’s, Oxford’s or Cambridge’s Blue Boats race each other in matched crews over the full Putney to Mortlake course under the all seeing eye of the coach that has to make to final selection. However, a large number of caveats have to be added.

To be in a winning crew does not guarantee anyone a Blue Boat seat on the big day – nor does being in a losing boat exclude anyone. Further, to not be in the Trials at all (usually because of injury) does not mean that the chance of a place on Boat Race Day has gone. 

As to matched crews, this year injury in the Oxford men’s squad meant that the crews were deliberately not matched and an unusual rate capped race took place. 

Trial Eight races are designed to test athletes not just against each other but also see how they cope with Tideway conditions and race day pressure. However, these days, Trials are about data as well as distance.

In recent years, technology has given Trails a new twist as the use of telemetry means that the coaches no longer have to rely on the mark one eyeball backed up by video and that individuals rather than crews can be more easily accessed. Each of the 600 or so strokes that every rower makes to cover the P to M course can now be analysed ad infinitum for stroke length, oar angle, force curve, acceleration, power and blade slip. A nice explanation of telemetry is on the Reading University BC site.

Cambridge’s Trials for the 2026 Boat Race were on 18 December and saw the boats of the men’s and women’s “A” and “B” races named with traditional undergraduate humour. While being a lightweight did not automatically exclude anyone from an “A” crew, the “B” race crews were officially a mix of openweights and lightweights.

Cambridge Women

Two-time Boat Race winner Carys Earl was the stroke of Ginger Spice on Surrey (left) and Eloise Etherington, who won in the Reserve Race last year, stroked Baby Spice on Middlesex (right). Pictured here off the start and approaching Putney Embankment, parallax error makes the boat nearest the camera, Baby, appear to have a greater lead than it did.

Off the start, it was Ginger, steered by Matt Moran, that had the higher rate but Baby, steered by Lidya Acar, soon took control and established a clear lead.

At Barn Elms.
Passing the Mile Post, Baby was one-and-a-half lengths up with both crews around 33.
Approaching Harrods, Ginger put in a push but it did little to reduce the deficit, and as so frequently happens after a failed burst, the opposition extended its lead.
Moving away from Hammersmith Bridge, Baby’s lead extended to over two lengths with both crews still around 33.
As clear leaders, Baby could afford to row a relaxed, confident stroke – although their opponents did not, as trailing crews often do, lose their form. 
Opposite St Paul’s School.
After the half-way mark and Chiswick Eyot, the Tideway, which had been threatening all morning, started to fight back and the water became increasingly rough. Here, the crews approach Mortlake.
Going through Barnes Bridge, Baby’s lead of perhaps five lengths meant that it could choose its course.
Passing the former Mortlake Brewery, the conditions had calmed down but the result was inevitable.
Baby finished five lengths/fifteen seconds up on Ginger.
Ginger put on a fine performance but seemed to lack the power of their opponents.
In the women’s “B” race (pictured here passing Duke’s Meadows), Scary Spice beat Sporty Spice by a third of a length.

Cambridge Men

The Cambridge men referenced their post training session meals of Beans and Slop when naming their boats. By the time that they went onto the start, the water had become even more difficult than it had been for the finish of the women’s race with wind blowing down the course and rain becoming constant. Both rowing and photography are put under much strain in such circumstances.

Beans was on Surrey (left) and was coxed by Freya Jenkinson and stroked by Patrick Wild. Slop took Middlesex (right) with Sammy Houdaigui as cox and George Dickinson as stroke.
Approaching Barn Elms. Slop took a small lead off the start, but the crews seemed very evenly matched and were largely inseparable throughout the early stages of the race. A reminder that parallax error makes the crew nearest to the camera further up than they actually were.
As Slop’s bend advantage ran out, Beans began to move ahead as the crews approached Harrods.
At Harrods, Beans reduced Slop’s already small lead to a canvas.
Drawing level at Hammersmith. Through the bridge, Beans took a half-a-length lead.
Past Chiswick crossover, Beans were three-quarters-of-a length up in Corney Reach but no-one was giving up.
Approaching Barnes Bridge the conditions worsened.
The crews do an impression of a 16-oar. In the final stages of the race, Beans finally managed to move away from Slop.
Beans crossed the finish one-and-a-half lengths ahead of Slop – but both crews should be pleased with their performance.

The Cambridge men have an embarrassment of talent to call on this year especially and several of their best oarsmen did not take part in Trials.

In the men’s “B” race, pictured here approaching Hammersmith Bridge, Astrix beat Obelix by just one third of a length.
Back to Cambridge followed by the Christmas break and then a training camp abroad in January.

Last March there was an eligibility controversy over some of the Cambridge squad. It was in part an argument over Postgraduate Certificate in Education students and partly over a rule brought in after James Cracknell took part in the 2019 race. This imposed a 12-year limit after a student first enrolled at any university but which had previously been ignored without complaint. On 3 December, OUBC and CUBC issued a joint statement:

Since May 2025, OUBC and CUBC have been reviewing the Joint Agreement rules regarding student athlete eligibility to row in the Boat Race.

Both Clubs confirmed at the end of September 2025 that they would accept and abide by the established Joint Agreement eligibility rules.

Discussions have continued and by mutual consent the Clubs have decided to suspend the “12-year rule” for the 2026 Boat Race season.

It is intended that any other changes to the Joint Agreement eligibility rules will be announced well in advance of the 2027 Boat Race season.

Make of that what you will.

One comment

  1. Hello,

    I am again disappointed that in your recent (Dec 21st) and comprehensive coverage “Countdown To The 2026 Boat Race: Cambridge Trial Eights” you continue to refer to a point along Hammersmith Reach as “Opposite St Paul’s School” whenI suggest it is more appropriate to be referred to as “Opposite Latymer Boathouse”.

    From an image standpoint, as the attached illustrates, there is little comparison between a row of historic buildings (including the home of  William Morris) and a slab of concrete!

    From the historic standpoint there are also some comparisons.  While St Paul’s was founded first 1509 vice 1624, Latymer moved to Hammersmith in 1756, St Paul’s in1884.  Latymer moved to its current site in 1895 while St Paul’s moved south in 1968, incidentally two years after the “new” Latymer Boathouse was built.  Clearly both fine schools with a friendly rivalry (particularly in rowing) going back many generations.

    I will concede (as someone who knows that stretch of water well) that it easier for a following boat to take a picture towards the Surrey bank. However, Latymer remains the most striking rowing related landmark along Hammersmith Reach.

    Sincerely,

    David Godfrey

    Del Mar, CA
    (Latymer 1964)

    Reply

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