Former Team GB rower hopes Oxford can turn the tide on Cambridge

A former Team GB rower is hoping Oxford can come out victorious over Cambridge in this year’s Boat Race.

Harry Glenister spent five years as a member of the GB senior rowing team, narrowly missing out on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics then sitting out the entire 2023 season with a back injury.

Cambridge have lost the men’s race just once in the last five years, winning last year’s edition by 1 1/3 lengths thanks to a risky move by their coxswain.

Despite this, Boat Race debutant Glenister is confident Oxford have what it takes to come out on top in the 169th iteration of the gruelling men’s showdown.

The Boat Race will take place on Saturday.

The 28-year-old told the PA news agency: “Winning this race would mean everything to me, just to finish with the sport, it’s a good end for me.

“Obviously very disappointed not to make Tokyo, but this would be as good for me if I could finish on a high.

“The Olympics is obviously bigger, but this is one of the biggest races in the world, so I would be very, very happy if I could get the win.

“It’s just such an awesome event. There’s so much great energy around it. Every rower wants to do this event.

“We’ve got a very strong team this year, we’ve got some dogs, very excited to see what we can do and turn the tide, try to stop this Cambridge dominance.”

Oxford are hoping to beat Cambridge in the race. (Image: Zac Goodwin/PA)

Glenister, set to occupy the two-seat in the dark blue boat, started out as a sculler, competing at junior and U23 levels, before transitioning to sweep rowing at the senior level.

His CV includes numerous World Cups and the 2019 European Championships and he was the first individual to be victorious in all three men’s quad events at Henley.

Glenister agrees his elite rowing experience will allow him to cultivate and ideally pass on the optimal competitive mindset come Saturday.

Yet the Boat Race debutant says he is learning just as much from those at Oxford more familiar with the traditional, 6.8 km Championship Course.

Story continues

Harry Glenister will be taking part in the race this year. (Image: PA)

There was little between the men’s rivals after their traditional weigh-in at the crew announcement on Wednesday, March 13.

Oxford came in at an average 92kg, just half a kilogram heavier than their Cambridge counterparts, with four-time Olympic champion Matthew Pinsent presiding as umpire.

The Boat Race will commence at 3.46pm on Saturday, March 30, along the River Thames in London and will be shown on BBC.

Coverage will be across BBC platforms including iPlayer and the BBC Sport website while the programme on BBC One will start at 2pm.