Umpire Peter Bridge was predicting a close, fast race at this afternoon’s press briefing before he gets the 153rd Boat Race, sponsored by Xchanging, underway at 4.30pm this afternoon.

“There’s a slight tail wind and good conditions so it should be a quick race,” he said. “That’s good, great for the race. I prefer it when the result is down to the crews rather than the weather.

“Everyone wants a close race,” he added. “It’s good for the audience and the people on the boat. We have two very good crews both with an equal chance of winning.”

Bridge also said he expected both coxes – Nick Brodie for Oxford and Rebecca Dowbiggin for Cambridge – to carry extra weight to make them up to the required 55kg.

The coxes will be weighed before the race and be required to carry sand sealed in water-proof bags to make them up to 55kg. The bags will be checked and weighed at each end of the race, he said.

Bridge added that he didn’t expect any “trouble” or unwarranted “aggression” from either cox during the race. “I’ve been very clear with both of them about what’s expected,” he said. “They know that the best chance of winning the race is to be sensible on the water and do what I tell them to.

“Both are aware of the risks of not responding to me. But I am confident that the crews will listen to the umpire because they know in the Boat Race disqualification is a real possibility.”

The 153rd Boat Race gets underway at 4.30pm today (Saturday). Cambridge lead the series 78-73, with one dead heat, but Oxford have won four of the last five races over the gruelling four and half mile Tideway course from Putney to Mortlake.

This year’s race will be broadcast live on ITV Sport, who achieved an audience of more than 7 million for last year’s race. LBC will also broadcast the race, while it will be available live in the USA for the first time through a deal brokered with ESPN.

250,000 spectators traditionally line the banks of the Thames to enjoy this iconic event, which is one of the Capital’s best ‘free shows’.