Challenge accepted and 2020 umpires announced

Representatives of Oxford and Cambridge men’s and women’s boat clubs met yesterday for the Presidents’ Challenge. Hosted by three-time Olympic gold medallist and Old Blue Andrew Triggs Hodge at the Chapel Down Gin Works, special guests and alumni were invited to witness the challenge and celebrate this traditional moment in the season.

As is tradition, the challenges were issued by the Presidents of last season’s losing Clubs. Tina Christmann, President for Oxford University Women’s Boat Club, challenged her counterpart, Larkin Sayre, who duly accepted. Augustin Wambersie challenged Freddie Davidson of Cambridge University Boat Club. Davidson, who has competed in The Men’s Boat Race on three occasions, also accepted the challenge.

2020 will mark the 5th time that The Women’s Boat Race and The Men’s Boat Race will take place on the same day and across the same course. It will also be The 75th Women’s Boat Race and The 166th Men’s Boat Race. Alongside the formalities of the official challenge, there was an announcement about the 2020 Race umpires. For the first time in the history of the event, there will be 2 females umpiring The Women’s Boat Race and The Men’s Boat Race. Judith Packer will umpire The Women’s Boat Race and Sarah Winckless MBE will umpire The Men’s Boat Race.

All four squads are in action this weekend at the Fours Head of the River, which will be the first chance supporters get to see the athletes compete against each other.

The Boat Race will take place on Sunday 29th March 2020.