How did it start?

The idea for a rowing race between the universities came from two friends - Charles Merivale, a student at Cambridge, and his Harrow schoolfriend Charles Wordsworth (nephew of the poet William Wordsworth), who was at Oxford.

On 12 March 1829, Cambridge sent a challenge to Oxford and thus the tradition was born which has continued to the present day, where the loser of the previous year"s race challenges the opposition to a re-match.

The first Boat Race took place at Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire and contemporary newspapers report crowds of twenty thousand travelled to watch. The race was stopped soon after the start and, following the restart, Oxford were clear winners. The event was such a resounding success that the townspeople later decided to organise a regatta of their own which duly became Henley Royal Regatta.

After the first year, the early Boat Races took place at Westminster in London, but by 1845, when Westminster had become too crowded, the Boat Race moved six miles up-stream to the then country village of Putney. In 1856 the race became an annual event (excepting only the war years).

How many people watch the race?

The Boat Race is one of the most popular events in the British sporting calendar and attracts a massive crowd of around 250,000 to the banks of the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake.

In 2006 the UK TV audience was 7.7million (ITV) in 2004 (BBC) it was 8.8 million. These kind of figures make The Boat Race a top five live televised annual British sporting event (along with the Grand National, the FA Cup Final, Wimbledon Men"s final and the British Grand Prix). The event also has a huge international following with an estimated global audience of over 120 million in around 180 countries.

Which famous faces have rowed in the Boat Race?

Tragic Everest moutaineer Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine (Oxford 1923); internationally acclaimed photographer Lord Snowdon (Cambridge 1950); former MP and now peer Colin, Lord Moynihan (Oxford 1977); Liberal Democrat MP David Rendel (Oxford 1974); comic actor and playwright Hugh Laurie (Cambridge 1980).

Olympic gold medallists include: four-times Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent (Oxford 1990, 1991 and 1993), 1992 Olympic champion Jonny Searle (Oxford 1988-90), Sydney Olympic gold medallists Tim Foster (Oxford 1997), Luka Grubor (Oxford 1997), Kieran West (Cambridge 1999, 2001 and 2006), Andrew Lindsay (Oxford 1997-99)and Athens Olympic gold medallist Ed Coode (Oxford 1998).

Who sponsors the race?

Xchanging sponsor The Boat Race. They joined the Boat Race team on 2 February 2005 at a period when the Races had begun to be closer and more exciting than ever before. In 2007 they renewed their sponsorship for five more years and are encouraged by the race’s growing international appeal.

Xchanging is a fast-growing, international, pure play business process outsourcing company, with blue-chip customers. Xchanging provides complex processing to the banking and insurance industries and procurement, finance and accounting and human resources services to customers across industries.

Xchanging’s CEO, David Andrews, said: “What I like about the Boat Race is the very narrow difference between success and failure. There are no prizes for coming second – it’s winner takes all, not unlike our own business environment!”

www.xchanging.com

Where are all the timing points?

Times are taken at fixed points along the course. The first is at The Mile Post. This is one mile from the start and is marked by a plinth on the tow path on the Surrey side. The plinth displays a carving of Steve Fairbairn who won twice for Cambridge in 1886 & 1887. He also founded the Head of the River Race and was responsible for a revolution in rowing style in the early 20th century.

Hammersmith Bridge is the second timing point about midway along the course. Designed by famous Victorian sewer engineer Joseph Bazalgette and built on the pier foundations for the 1827 bridge it was opened in 1887. A replacement for the original bridge was needed after alarmed owners witnessed over 11,000 spectators clamber all over the structure during the 1870 race. Traditionally coxes aim for the second lampost from the left which marks the deepest part of the river and therefore the fastest line.

While there are no steps to see at Chiswick Steps, this is the third timing point. Just beyond Chiswick Pier at a point where non-racing crews usually cross from the Surrey to the Middlesex side of the river at the end of the long Surrey bend.

Barnes Bridge is the last opportunity for crews to put in their big push with just 3 minutes of the race remaining. The railway bridge was built in 1849 then rebuilt in 1895. It connects the stations of Barnes Bridge and Chiswick.

The Finish is marked by a post painted in the two blues virtually opposite the Old Ship and just before Chiswick Bridge.

What does the umpire do?

In simple terms the umpire is responsible for keeping the two crews apart and ensuring a fair race. This is often easier said than done as both crews try to keep to the best racing line. In 2001 umpire Rupert Obholzer stopped the race following a clash of blades on the Fulham bend then restarted the crews level. Cambridge went on to win. Umpires are always old ‘Blues’, since 2002 chosen from a panel of four ‘Blues’ from each university.

What is a Blue?

Sportsmen and women at either university may be awarded a Full Blue, Half Blue or Second Team Colours for competing at the highest level of university sport, which must include being in a Varsity match or race. A Full Blue is the highest honour that may be bestowed on a sportsman or woman from these universities, and is a much-coveted and prestigious prize. In general, the Full Blue standard is approximately that of being successful at a national level of student competition, and the Half Blue standard is that of being successful at county or regional level. Awards of Blues are made at the discretion of the Awards Committee of each university.

Why is the cox always so small?

The cox of a racing VIII performs a job just as important as any of the rowers, they are responsible for steering the boat and keeping to the best racing line while making tactical and motivational calls to the crew. Yet they are also a dead weight hence the convention for using someone small and light. The minimum weight for coxes in the Boat Race is now 55kg. Make no mistake though a good cox can win you the race.

Why does it matter if you are on Middlesex or Surrey?

The clubs’ presidents toss a coin - a gold sovereign from 1829 that can be seen at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames - before the race for the right to choose which side of the river (station) they will row on: their decision is based on the day’s weather conditions and how the various bends in the course might favour their crew’s pace. The north station, Middlesex has the advantage of the first and last bends, and the south, Surrey, station the longer middle bend.

Where is the best place to watch the Boat Race?

The race can be watched from the embankment on either side of the course. Remember the course is 4 1/4 miles so you will only ever see a small part of it live. However there are big screens at Bishops Park, close to the start and Furnival Gardens just after Hammersmith Bridge where you will be able to follow the whole race. See our Watching guide for details.

Why is the women’s race not held on the same day?

The Women’s Boat Race is organised by Henley Boat Races and is held on the Henley stretch, originally used by the men in 1829. The race is held one week prior to the Boat Race. There are also races for men’s and women’s lightweights. It wouldn’t be possible to accomodate all of these races in the Boat Race programme. Cambridge lead Oxford by 40-24, with the first race being held in 1927. More information from Henley Boat Races.