The Boat Race 2025: Trial Eights – Oxford Women

The first opportunity for two crews to duel down the championship course, Trial Eights is a key race in preparation for The Boat Race. Two matched crews battling it out over the 6.7km piece, this is traditionally a key milestone in Boat Race season. Trial eights gives the athletes a first look at what race day will be like. The athletes opted to name their crews Moto Moto and King Julien after characters from the 2005 film Madagascar. Moto Moto took the Surrey station with King Julien on the Middlesex station.

Off the start, both crews were clean, and Moto Moto was able to pull ahead despite their disadvantage on the Fulham bend. With Cambridge having gained an early lead in the past couple of boat races, Oxford will want to have a quick start come April. 

After Fulham, Moto Moto was stroked by Heidi Long, Olympic bronze medallist in the eight, and they continued to extend their lead following Long’s strong rhythm. The rhythm was sent down the boat by returning Blue Sarah Marshall in the seven seat and President Annie Anezakis in the six seat. The crew’s unity allowed them to continue pulling away as they passed Hammersmith Bridge.

Despite the distance between the crews, Catherine King kept the rhythm lively in the trailing King Julien, maintaining the rate high as you would expect from a former lightweight. They managed to maintain the distance from Moto Moto, but past the Chiswick Eyot, conditions worsened and the stroke rates came down to try and contend with the rough conditions. 

By Barnes Bridge, the result seemed set, with Moto Moto lengths ahead and continuing to pull away from King Julien. With a strong finish, Moto Moto crossed the line 8 lengths ahead of King Julien. Despite the large margin between the crews, Heidi Long described it as a positive experience, emphasising the importance of the process.

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