Some quick and easy fun facts about The Boat Race.

Heaviest and Lightest

The heaviest oarsman ever was Thorsten Engelmann, the stroke man of the 2007 Cambridge Blue Boat. He weighed in at 17 stone 6lbs (110.8 kilos).

The previous heaviest oarsman was Christopher Heathcote, 17 stone 5lbs (110.22 kilos) - Oxford 1990.

The lighest oarsman ever was Alfred Higgins, 9st 6.5lbs (60.1 kilos) - Oxford stroke 1882.

The heaviest ever crew was the 2005 Oxford Crew. They weighed in on March 22nd 2005 at an average of 98.35kg per man (excluding the cox). That’s 15st 6 lbs and 13 ounces per man. Cambridge held the previous record with an average weight of 14 st 13 3/8 lbs (94.9 kgs) in 1998.

The lightest ever coxes were Francis Archer (Cambridge 1862) and Hart Massey (Oxford 1939) - both weighed in at 5 stone 2 lbs (32.66 kilos). There is now a 55kg weight limit for coxes in The Boat Race.

Youngest and Oldest One of the youngest winning oarsman ever was Matthew Smith, 18 years - Oxford 2000. He went on to victories with Oxford in 2002 and 2003 (as President). The youngest winner of all-time was John Wiggins in 1976, aged 18 years and eight months exactly on Race Day.

Until 2008 the oldest oarsman to compete was Donald Macdonald, 31 and three months - Oxford 1987. In 2008 this was surpassed by Mike Wherley (Oxford)a two times US Olympian who at 36 is likely to remain the oldest rower in the event for some time to come. But the oldest ever to compete in the race was Andy Probert, 38 years - Cambridge cox 1992.

Tallest

The tallest oarsman ever is Josh West 6" 9.5" (2 metres 7 cm) - Cambridge 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 The tallest ever crew was Cambridge with an average height of 6ft 6 9.32" in 1999

Winning margin

The smallest winning margin on record is just one foot, which was the winning margin in 2003. In 1980 it was just a canvas - approximately four feet - to Oxford. In 1952, when Oxford also won by a canvas, the boats were bigger and a canvas was approximately six feet.

The 1877 race resulted in a dead-heat, the only time this has ever happened. It is reported that the finish judge actually called it a "…dead-heat to Oxford by five feet"

Course Record

The current Course Record is 16 mins 19 secs - set by Cambridge in 1998.

The first race on the Putney to Mortlake course in 1845 was won by Cambridge in a time of 23 mins 30 secs.

Slowest winning time

In 1860 Cambridge won by one length in a time of 26 mins 5 secs - nearly 10 mins slower than the course record. The slowest winning time ever was again by Cambridge in 36 mins but this was in 1836, in only the second race, held between Westminster and Putney.

Timing points

Official times are taken at fixed points every year. These are: The Mile Post, Hammersmith Bridge, Chiswick Steps, Barnes Bridge, The Finish.

Sinkings

There have been six sinkings but the race result has only been determined by a sinking on three occasions: Cambridge twice (1859 and 1978) and Oxford once (1925). On 31 March 1912, both boats sank and the race was held again on 1 April. On 24 March 1951, Oxford sank and the race was rescheduled for 26 March, when Cambridge won.

In 1984 Cambridge sank during their warm-up on their way to the start after hitting a moored barge. The race was postponed until the following day when Oxford won by three and three quarter lengths.

Disqualification

The race has only been decided by disqualification on one occassion. In December 1849 Cambridge were disqualified following a foul. This was the second race that year after Oxford lost in March but complained their boat was defective.

First Race

The first Boat Race was held in 1829 at Henley on Thames. The first Boat Race on the current course from Putney to Mortlake took place in 1845.

There were only 12 races between 1829 - 1854 but since 1856 they have been held annually only interrupted during the war years.

Women

In 1981 Sue Brown (Oxford cox) became the first woman to participate in the Boat Race. 1989 was the first year both Blue Boats were coxed by women

Most Races

The record for competing in the most races is held by Boris Rankov who raced in 6 Oxford Blue Boats between 1978-1983. He also rowed for Isis in 1974 & 1975. He is now a Boat Race Umpire.

The Boats

The international class eights boats weigh 96kg (211lbs) and are 19.9m (62ft) long

Sliding Seats

Sliding seats were used for the first time by both crews in 1873.

Training

Every member of The Boat Race crews trains for approximately two hours for every stroke in The Race. It takes about 600 strokes to complete the course.

Isis & Goldie

The race between the reserve crews Isis (Oxford) & Goldie (Cambridge) started in 1965. Isis are named after the river flowing through Oxford while Goldie honour one of Cambridge’s greatest oarsmen John Goldie (a blue 1869-1872).

Goldie lead the series with 28 wins to 17 for Isis, but Isis have won the last 2 races.