The countdown to the 2024 Boat Race began last night with the Presidents’ Challenge.
After Cambridge’s clean sweep in 2023, it was the two Oxford Presidents who challenged their opponents to a race on 30th March next year.
Oxford’s Louis Corrigan and Ella Stadler challenged Cambridge’s Sebastian Benzecry and Jenna Armstrong to the 169th men’s and 78th women’s races.
Siobhan Cassidy, Chair of the Boat Race Company Limited Board, said: “Each race will be over in 20 minutes or so but the repercussions will ripple throughout the years.”
The lead up to the Boat Race
The women’s race
Cambridge has a 47-30 winning record against Oxford in the women’s race and are on an impressive 6-year winning streak.
The Dark Blues have seen some big changes this year, with the arrival of Allan French as their Women’s Head Coach and the merging of the men’s and women’s openweight and lightweight clubs into one body.
Ella Stadler, Oxford Women’s President said: “It’s a really exciting year. We’ve got a new coach and a new club structure. We’re working with a bigger squad than we’ve ever worked with before.
“Allan brings a lot of experience especially from setting up the Oxford Brooke’s women’s empire. It’s very empowering to be coached by Allan.”
But after 6 consecutive losses, Stadler hopes that the changes made will be enough to turn the tide on the Light Blues.
She said: “As individual athletes we are focusing a lot more on how we spend our time. We’re travelling to London a bit less. We are focusing on how we can get the physiological and technical benefits for where we need to be and apply that to the river when we get there.
“Six years is six years. When I was applying and thinking about becoming President coming off the loss last year in the Boat Race, my biggest thing was I wanted to be able to stand there on the first day of the season and empower a group of women that this is going to be the year that it is different.”
But the Light Blues certainly have something to say about that.
Jenna Armstrong, Cambridge Women’s President, said: “We’re really building and developing. It’s amazing to see how our athletes have been developing with the programme. The numbers we’ve been producing out on the water have been really promising so I feel quite good with the girls and the athletes that we have.”
And, just like at Oxford, there have been changes to the coaching lineup at Cambridge. Autumn Mantell has left the programme, replaced as Assistant Coach by Matilda Horn.
Armstrong said: “Matilda has been incredible. She got the hand over from Autumn – they were friends and teammates before Cambridge. Matilda was with us over the summer while Autumn was still there so there was some continuity. They’re very similar in the way they coach and interact with the squad. They bring so much to the squad, particularly in terms of our cox development programme.”
The men’s race
Last year saw an iconic moment in Boat Race history, with Jasper Parish’s daring coxing allowing the Light Blue underdogs to snatch a glorious victory for Cambridge.
While Cambridge lead in the record books 86-81 over Oxford, the trophy has changed hands a lot more on the men’s side than the women’s in recent years.
Oxford Men’s President Louis Corrigan is confident of a Dark Blue comeback.
Corrigan said: “Tactical awareness – that’s the lesson that we’ve learnt from that race. Cambridge enjoyed the benefit of having that station to make that decision but being aware of that possibility stops it from happening in the future.
“We’ve had quite a good recruiting run this year. It gives us a wonderful opportunity. We’ve got some returners who are very hungry for a win and very hungry on the lessons learned last year, combined with some fresh blood who can really bring the Oxford we saw in the noughties.”
And despite having just half the number of returning Blues than Cambridge, the Dark Blues have some noteworthy new blood in the form of Harry Glenister, a four-time winner at Henley Royal Regatta and a season GB athlete.
Corrigan said: “We have some seriously impressive athletes who are leading from the front. But we have a whole body of people so set on the goal. We are led from the top and the bottom is driving up as well.
They will face off against Sebastian Benzecry’s Cambridge side.
Benzecry said: “We had a really great training block in the lead up to Fours Head.
“We talked a lot about creating an atmosphere where guys come into every session positive and enthusiastic and here for what it is – an incredible, unique opportunity to do something pretty special and take part in an amazing tradition.”
While Jasper Parish may not be returning for the Light Blues, they maintain their coxing caliber with the addition of Ed Bracey from Harvard.
The countdown to the 2024 Boat Race has begun – and we can’t wait for the ride!
Feature image: ©Row360/The Boat Race Company
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