The build-up to the 2025 Boat Race has been dominated by disputes over eligibility rules and the spirit of the contect.
The rivalry has been at play off the water as the two clubs finalise their crews, with Oxford labelled “slimy” and “desperate” after students undertaking post-graduate teacher training were deemed ineligible for the first time.
Here’s all you need to know about the Boat Rice controversy…
Boat Race 2025 row explained
The situation began when Oxford and Cambridge exchanged the name of their crews for this year’s Boat Race.
Oxford took issue with three of the names on Cambridge’s lists, including Matt Heywood, two-time winner of the Under-23 men’s eight world title.
They argued that a PGCE, a post-graduate teacher qualification, was a certificate rather than a degree, and therefore the rowers undertaking that training should be ineligible for the race.
Cambridge disputed that, while also raising the point that Oxford did not voice any issues last year when Cambridge had two PGCE students in their reserve boat crew.
Oxford’s complaint was raised to an interpretation panel, which consists of a chair, two representatives from each club and two academics, and the decision had been made that students in post-graduate teacher training cannot race.
It has been ruled that PGCE students cannot participate in the Boat Race
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What has been the response?
Heywood is one of those who will now not be able to take part in the Boat Race, and he criticised a decision that has left him “disheartened”.
“It’s safe to say that this decision doesn’t align with any values of sportsmanship or race spirit that I have known in rowing, and that I feel disheartened by the wider implications of this decision on my future vocation,” he said on Instagram.
“I applied to the PGCE because I am passionate about inspiring and supporting young people. I want to be a teacher. I’m excited to start that career in September and am looking forward to what the future holds.
“This was meant to be my last race. 15 year old me, who grew up by the Thames and learned to row at his local club, could never have dreamed of how fortunate he would be to experience some incredible moments thanks to this sport. It’s a shame it’s ending this way, but I have a lot to be grateful for.”
Imogen Grant, who is the reigning Olympic lightweight double sculls champion and won the women’s Boat Race with Cambridge on three occasions, hit out at what she viewed as a “desperate ploy” from Oxford.
She said: “I’m seeing. This is an insult to teachers everywhere and a desperate ploy from Oxford to gain an upper hand in the most slimy way.
“I don’t believe this reflects on the current Oxford squad, who have also had to train among this uncertainty all year. I believe this is entirely down to select individuals among the alumni who have a narrow, outdated view of who rows boat races.”
However, Sir John Bell, who is a senior member of the Oxford University Boat Club executive committee, claimed students were aware this move was likely to happen.
“A PGCE is not a degree course, it is a diploma and that is not a degree,” he said. “We didn’t take the decision, the decision was made by the arbitration panel.
“The students were warned a long time ago they would be unlikely to be able to row and they thought they would just plough on. There is a very clear process.”
Imogen Grant (left) won the Boat Race three times with Cambridge
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The Boat Race Company runs the contest on behalf of Oxford and Cambridge.
Representatives from the two are among those on the board, but a joint agreement between both clubs states that any disputes over eligibility will be resolved by an independent panel.
A statement from the Boat Race Company on the recent dispute said: “We sympathise with any athlete disappointed with the crew selection for The Boat Race.
“This is an extremely competitive process and there are strict (publicly available) eligibility criteria for being considered for a place in a crew.
Those criteria are jointly agreed by the two competing Clubs, with no involvement from The Boat Race Company Limited (BRCL) or any third party.
“ Similarly, both Clubs agree to the existence and ultimate authority of an independent Interpretation Panel to provide rulings on any disputes, or to clarify rules where necessary. The Clubs are signatories to a Joint Agreement and agree to be bound by a ruling of the Interpretation Panel with no further recourse.
“We hope that any decision of the Interpretation Panel (IP) is respected and accepted, and not debated publicly, particularly since the IP’s remit was agreed by the Clubs.”
James Cracknell represented Cambridge at the age of 46 in 2019
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Who can compete in the Boat Race?
The eligibility rules state that: “All participants must be full-time students (in residence for the whole academic year) studying on a course which requires compulsory matriculation and leads to an Oxford or Cambridge degree-level qualification.”
However, there have been examples that have perhaps tested the spirit of the rules. In 2019, two-time Olympic champion James Cracknell raced for Cambridge at the age of 46, on the grounds that he was studying a Master of Philosophy degree in human evolution at the University.
In 2007, Cambridge had world champion Thorsten Engelmann in their boat leading them to victory, before he then dropped out of his course shortly after the race to spark anger from Oxford.
Cambridge have been the dominant force in the Boat Race in recent years.
They have won six of the last eight men’s races, which has taken the overall record to 87-81 in their favour.
It has been even more one-sided in the women’s race, with Cambridge winning the last seven races, including last year’s victory by seven lengths.
