The idea for a rowing race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge 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 Modern Boat Race still runs along the same lines but has now become a major international sporting occasion drawing millions of viewers from around the world.

On Race Day up to 250,000 spectators crowd the banks of the Thames from Putney to Mortlake to witness the action.

Cambridge currently lead the series since 1829 by 79-73. Cambridge won the most recent encounter (2007) but Oxford won the previous two encounters (2005 and 2006).

The 154th Boat Race takes place on Saturday, 29 March 2008 at 17.15, with the toss taking place at 15.25. The Isis Goldie Race will take place at 16.45.

The Veterans Boat Race takes place on Friday 28 March at 16.30.