Rowers from many of the colleges took to the River Cam for the traditional race – which sees competitors crash and collide.
More than 150 crews took part in today’s competition – held on the 186th anniversary of the first ever Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Today the tranquil, tree-lined River Cam was churned into a battleground as the students raced in a format dating back to the 1820s. Crews lined up along the river with just one-and-a-half boat lengths between each of them. Participants then rowed frantically in an effort to bump the boat in front of them, without getting bumped from the boat behind.
The races are held over four days and by bumping, a crew moves up a place on the river for the following day's race. The aim is to go up four places during the course of the four days' racing. As part of the tradition students break off willow branches from the tow path and attach them to their heads once they have caught up with or “bumped” a boat in front of them.