An annual tradition, Trial VIIIs provides some of the most thrilling racing of the season.

It’s a dress rehearsal for the rowers, coxes, coaches and umpires and is the only time during a Boat Race season that the clubs will race the complete Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake in a one-on-one duel with another crew before The Boat Race itself.

Follow all the action on our live blogs (see links below), reporting directly from the umpire’s launch.

Note that Trial VIIIs will not be live streamed this year.

Oxford

Tuesday 8 December

Men’s Trial VIIIs 11.18

Women’s Trial VIIIs 12.18

Cambridge

Saturday 12 December

Men’s Trial VIIIs 13.41

Women’s Trial VIIIs 14.41

Trial VIIIs FAQs

How do the Trial VIIIs work?

Each coach takes the top sixteen rowers and top two coxes and splits them into two evenly matched crews who will then race one another.

For about a week before the race they’ll train and bond as a crew with laser focus on beating the other crew in a bid to earn the all important bragging rights for the rest of the season.

What’s the point of a club racing itself?

There are lots of benefits to the coach in seeing how well the athletes bond and contribute to building a strong team and in particular how well the coxes cope with the pressure of an official Boat Race Umpire judging their steering.

And for the viewer, it’s some of the tightest racing action you’ll see all year because the coaches have gone out of their way to match the crews (sometimes swapping athletes the days before if one crew starts going faster than the other).

Where can I watch Trial VIIIs?

You can watch from anywhere along the riverbank, or use our Live Blog to get images and updates from the day.