A trial race between the Oxford and Cambridge University boat clubs planned for this morning (09/04) was scrapped. This was due to the two clubs falling out over a disagreement about would-be competitors being barred from the Boat Race for studying a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) rather than a degree.

Cambridge was unable to find a crew in time for the women’s spare race after Oxford insisted that the ban on PGCE students applied also to the spare race, which is a practice race for members not selected for the Boat Race, according to The Guardian.

The spare race is also used to give both clubs an idea of what the conditions on the Thames are likely to be four days before the Boat Race. These races are typically contested between pairs without a cox, unlike this weekend’s coxed eight-person main races.

Following this, Cambridge was not able to fill their main women’s boat and had to be replaced by London Rowing Club (LRC). LRC beat Oxford over a shorter stretch of Sunday’s course on the Thames.

Cambridge University Boat Club president Lucy Harvard was suggested as a replacement for Cambridge, but this was rejected by Oxford because of the 12-year rule.

This rule states that if it has been 12 years since an individual enrolled in their degree, they may not take part in the Boat Race. Matt Heywood, another Cambridge rower, was also banned from the main men’s race this year due to the 12-year rule.

The 12-year rule is a new regulation which was added four years ago by joint agreement between the two boat clubs when double Olympic champion James Cracknell rowed for Cambridge in 2019 at the age of 46.

Other races between the two rival universities, including the women’s lightweight spare race and the two men’s races went ahead as normal. Abiding by Oxford’s requests, Cambridge won all three races, leaving the Oxford team defeated in all four races they competed in.

Cambridge are understood to have argued that they could not fill their women’s spare boat without Molly Foxell and Kate Crowley. Last month, both rowers were ruled out of the main race when the interpretation panel which governs the Boat Race supported Oxford’s complaint against the participation of PGCE students.

Cambridge sources have expressed surprise that these rules should also apply to spare races, with one source noting that Oxford’s “siege mentality” seems to be doing them few favours, having still lost all four races.

Cambridge could also pose a legal challenge to Oxford, and appeal against the interpretation panel’s decision before next year’s Boat Race. The independent legal opinion by four barristers at Blackstone Chambers stated that there are “strong grounds to challenge the lawfulness” of the decision, according to The Guardian.

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