1 mins
Rob Baker
Every Boat Race campaign presents its own unique mix of obstacles to overcome and rewards to reap. Challenges have been plentiful over the last seven months, but as we approach the final few weeks Cambridge are in a strong position. The 2025 team have fully bought in to the club’s ethos and the demands of studying and training at Cambridge University Boat Club.
Our season started with a trip to China, having been invited back to the Head of Shanghai River Regatta. It was an opportunity to bridge the gap between our new recruits and returning members of the 2024 squad. We also enjoyed a successful trip to Boston, MA., where our top men’s eight won the Head Of The Charles Regatta.
We returned to Ely and focused on developing the squad’s small boat skillset: our intention was to accelerate individual progress. It is important to tweak the programme year-to-year, and an extended block of training in the pairs was one of the changes we made this year. This was reflected in our GB Rowing winter trials performances where George Bourne won the first trial in his single, and Cambridge placed first and second in the men’s pairs a few weeks later.
The competition for Blue Boat and Goldie seats is ongoing but has been fierce all season. We have an enviable depth of talent which serves to raise everyone’s level of performance. Thanks go to our international rowing friends from the Netherlands, Croatia and Spain who travelled to London for the fixture series and helped sharpen us up ahead of race day.
With the 2025 race fast approaching I could not be prouder of the commitment, resilience and progress each of our athletes have shown this season. The rowers are fit, and their endurance is at an extremely high level. Oxford have their Olympians, but we are very confident and ready to race.