# The Lightweight Boat Races

The Lightweight Boat Races are a series of annual rowing races between men's and women's lightweight crews representing the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.
The first men's race took place in 1975, being joined by the women's race in 1984. Both races are currently held on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake, although they previously formed part of the Henley Boat Races, along with various other rowing races between the two universities, including the openweight women's Boat Race. Members of both teams are traditionally known as blues or half blues and each boat as a Blue Boat. Competitors at the events have gone on to compete at international and Olympic levels.

## History

Richard Bates, a Cambridge undergraduate, organised a Boat Race between lightweight men's crews of Oxford and Cambridge universities in 1975, to take place at Henley-on-Thames. The race was joined by the openweight women's Boat Race two years later, thus forming the Henley Boat Races. The first lightweight women's boat race took place at the event in 1984. Reserve races have taken place since 2000 (except 2010–2015) for the lightweight men (Nephthys vs Granta) and in some years since 2012 for the lightweight women (Tethys vs CUWBC Lightweight Reserves).
In 2019, the lightweight men's race moved to the Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake, where it has been held since. The lightweight women's race made the same move the following year in 2020.
For the men's race the average weight of the crew must not exceed 70 kilograms (154.3 lb; 11 st 0.3 lb), with no rower weighing over 72.5 kilograms (159.8 lb; 11 st 5.8 lb). For the women's race, no rower can exceed 59 kilograms (130.1 lb; 9 st 4.1 lb).
The races receive annual press coverage, and competitors from both Universities have gone on to compete at international and Olympic levels.

## Results

The history of the results of the races are as follows.

### Lightweight Men's Boat Race

* Cambridge: 30 wins
* Oxford: 20 wins
| No. | Date | Winner | Time | Winning Margin (Lengths) | Oxford Wins | Cambridge Wins |
| 1 | 1975 | Cambridge | 6:18 | | - | 1 |
| 2 | 1976 | Oxford | 6:32 | | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 1977 | Oxford | 6:19 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | 1978 | Cambridge | 5.48 | 2⁄3 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | 1979 | Cambridge | 5.39 | 2/3 | 2 | 3 |
| 6 | 1980 | Cambridge | 6:15 | | 2 | 4 |
| 7 | 1981 | Cambridge | 6:21 | | 2 | 5 |
| 8 | 1982 | Cambridge | NTT | | 2 | 6 |
| 9 | 1983 | Cambridge | 5:53 | | 2 | 7 |
| 10 | 1984 | Cambridge | 5:40 | 1+1⁄3 | 2 | 8 |
| 11 | 1985 | Cambridge | 6:00 | 6 ft | 2 | 9 |
| 12 | 1986 | Cambridge | 6:24 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 13 | 1987 | Cambridge | 6:09 | 1⁄2 | 2 | 11 |
| 14 | 1988 | Cambridge | 5:50 | | 2 | 12 |
| 15 | 1989 | Cambridge | 5:51 | 4+1⁄2 | 2 | 13 |
| 16 | 1990 | Cambridge | 6:40 | 4+3⁄4 | 2 | 14 |
| 17 | 1991 | Cambridge | 6:39 | 1⁄3 | 2 | 15 |
| 18 | 1992 | Oxford | 5:40 | 2+1⁄2 | 3 | 15 |
| 19 | 1993 | Cambridge | 5:39 | 1⁄2 | 3 | 16 |
| 20 | 1994 | Oxford | 5:35 | 3⁄4 | 4 | 16 |
| 21 | 1995 | Cambridge | 5:29 | 1⁄3 | 4 | 17 |
| 22 | 1996 | Oxford | NRO disq | | 5 | 17 |
| 23 | 1997 | Oxford | 5:49 | 1 | 6 | 17 |
| 24 | 1998 | Cambridge | 5:45 | 1⁄2 | 6 | 18 |
| 25 | 1999 | Oxford | 5:31 | 1+1⁄2 | 7 | 18 |
| 26 | 2000 | Cambridge | 5:40 | 2 | 7 | 19 |
| 27 | 2001 | Cambridge | 6:33 | 4 (raced at Holme Pierrepont) | 7 | 20 |
| 28 | 2002 | Oxford | 5:21 | 2 | 8 | 20 |
| 29 | 2003 | Oxford | 5:55 | 1+1⁄4 | 9 | 20 |
| 30 | 2004 | Oxford | 5:36 | 1⁄2 | 10 | 20 |
| 31 | 2005 | Oxford | 5:51 | 3 | 11 | 20 |
| 32 | 1 April 2006 | Oxford | 5:18 | 2+1⁄4 | 12 | 20 |
| 33 | 1 April 2007 | Oxford | 3:44 | 1 (raced over a shortened course) | 13 | 20 |
| 34 | 23 March 2008 | Oxford | 6:15 | 2+1⁄2 | 14 | 20 |
| 35 | 22 March 2009 | Cambridge | 5:49 | 3 | 14 | 21 |
| 36 | 28 March 2010 | Cambridge | 5:28 | 2 ft | 14 | 22 |
| 37 | 27 March 2011 | Oxford | 5:54 | Canvas | 15 | 22 |
| 38 | 25 March 2012 | Cambridge | 6:00 | 3⁄4 | 15 | 23 |
| 39 | 24 March 2013 | Oxford | 6:49 | 1+2⁄3 (raced at Dorney) | 16 | 23 |
| 40 | 30 March 2014 | Cambridge | 5:30 | 3+1⁄2 | 16 | 24 |
| 41 | 5 April 2015 | Cambridge | 5:55 | 4 ft | 16 | 25 |
| 42 | 19 March 2016 | Cambridge | 6:19 | Easily | 16 | 26 |
| 43 | 26 March 2017 | Cambridge | 6:07 | 1+3⁄4 | 16 | 27 |
| 44 | 18 March 2018 | Cambridge | 6:26 | 1⁄3 (raced at Dorney) | 16 | 28 |
| 45 | 24 March 2019 | Oxford | 17:43 | 2+1⁄3 (first race on the Tideway) | 17 | 28 |
| 46 | 15 March 2020 | Oxford | 18:50 | 3+1⁄2 | 18 | 28 |
| 47 | 23 May 2021 | Oxford | 14:19 | 1+1⁄2 (raced at Ely) | 19 | 28 |
| 48 | 20 March 2022 | Cambridge | 18:01 | 5 | 19 | 29 |
| 49 | 20 March 2023 | Cambridge | 18:18 | 11 | 19 | 30 |
| 50 | 29 March 2024 | Cambridge | 20:15 | 51⁄2 | 19 | 31 |

### Lightweight Women's Boat Race

* Cambridge: 24 wins
* Oxford: 17 wins
| No. | Date | Winner | Time | Winning Margin (Lengths) | Oxford Wins | Cambridge Wins |
| 1 | 1984 | Cambridge | | | - | 1 |
| 2 | 1985 | Cambridge | | | - | 2 |
| 3 | 1986 | Oxford | | | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | 1987 | Cambridge | | | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | 1988 | Cambridge | 5:50 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | 1989 | Cambridge | 6:37 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 7 | 1990 | Cambridge | 7:35 | 2+1⁄3 | 1 | 6 |
| 8 | 1991 | Cambridge | 7:48 | 2+1⁄4 | 1 | 7 |
| 9 | 1992 | Cambridge | 6:35 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 10 | 1993 | Cambridge | 6:18 | Easily | 1 | 9 |
| 11 | 1994 | Cambridge | 6:23 | 1 ft. | 1 | 10 |
| 12 | 1995 | Oxford | 6:19 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 13 | 1996 | Cambridge | 6:36 | Canvas | 2 | 11 |
| 14 | 1997 | Cambridge | 6:37 | Canvas | 2 | 12 |
| 15 | 1998 | Oxford | 6:36 | Canvas | 3 | 12 |
| 16 | 1999 | Oxford | 6:01+1⁄2 | 2+3⁄4 | 4 | 12 |
| 17 | 2000 | Oxford | 6:22 | 2+1⁄2 | 5 | 12 |
| 18 | 2001 | Cambridge | 7:37 | 3 (raced at Holme Pierrepont) | 5 | 13 |
| 19 | 2002 | Oxford | 6:06 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 20 | 2003 | Oxford | 6:51 | 2 | 7 | 13 |
| 21 | 2004 | Oxford | 6:08 | 3⁄4 | 8 | 13 |
| 22 | 2005 | Oxford | 6:55 | 1⁄2 | 9 | 13 |
| 23 | 1 April 2006 | Cambridge | 6:00 | Canvas | 9 | 14 |
| 24 | 1 April 2007 | Oxford | 4:11 | 1 (raced over a shortened course) | 10 | 14 |
| 25 | 23 March 2008 | Cambridge | 7:01 | 1⁄3 | 10 | 15 |
| 26 | 22 March 2009 | Oxford | 6:30 | 2+1⁄2 | 11 | 15 |
| 27 | 28 March 2010 | Oxford | 6:01 | 2+3⁄4 | 12 | 15 |
| 28 | 27 March 2011 | Cambridge | 6:43 | 1+1⁄2 | 12 | 16 |
| 29 | 25 March 2012 | Oxford | 6:48 | 1+1⁄3 | 13 | 16 |
| 30 | 24 March 2013 | Oxford | 7:33 | 4+3⁄4 (raced at Dorney) | 14 | 16 |
| 31 | 29 March 2014 | Oxford | 6:08 | 3+1⁄2 | 15 | 16 |
| 32 | 5 April 2015 | Cambridge | 6:26 | 3 ft. | 15 | 17 |
| 33 | 19 March 2016 | Oxford | 6:54 | Canvas | 16 | 17 |
| 34 | 26 March 2017 | Cambridge | 6:45 | 3 | 16 | 18 |
| 35 | 18 March 2018 | Cambridge | 7:24 | 1⁄2 (raced at Dorney) | 16 | 19 |
| 36 | 30 March 2019 | Oxford | 6:28 | 2+1⁄2 | 17 | 19 |
| 37 | 15 March 2020 | Cambridge | 23:24 | 6 (first race on the Tideway) | 17 | 20 |
| 38 | 18 May 2021 | Cambridge | 18:08 | 2+1⁄2 (raced at Ely) | 17 | 21 |
| 39 | 20 March 2022 | Cambridge | 19:59 | 15 | 17 | 22 |
| 40 | 20 March 2023 | Cambridge | 23:34 | 6 | 17 | 23 |
| 41 | 29 March 2024 | Cambridge | 23:04 | 5 | 17 | 24 |

### Lightweight Men's Reserves (Nephthys vs Granta)

* Oxford: 11 wins (inc. 3 R/O)
* Cambridge: 8 wins
| Date | Winner | Time | Winning Margin (Lengths) | Oxford Wins | Cambridge Wins |
| 2000 | Cambridge | 5:50 | 2+3⁄4 | - | 1 |
| 2001 | Oxford | 7 | 1⁄2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 | Oxford | 5:33 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2003 | Cambridge | 6:19 | 2+1⁄2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2004 | Oxford | 5:45 | Canvas | 3 | 2 |
| 2005 | Oxford | 6:07 | 4+1⁄2 | 4 | 2 |
| 1 April 2006 | Oxford | 5:26 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 1 April 2007 | Oxford | 4:08 | R/O due to no Cambridge crew. Lost to Old Boys. | 6 | 2 |
| 23 March 2008 | Oxford | 6:29 | R/O due to no Cambridge crew. Lost to Old Boys. | 7 | 2 |
| 22 March 2009 | Oxford | 6:15 | R/O due to no Cambridge crew. Beat Durham. | 8 | 2 |
| | | | Race in abeyance 2010 - 2015 | | |
| 13 March 2016 | Cambridge | - | 1+1⁄4 (Raced in 4x) | 8 | 3 |
| 19 March 2017 | Cambridge | 6:19 | 2+1⁄2 (Raced in 8+) | 8 | 4 |
| 18 March 2018 | Cambridge | 7:24 | 3⁄4 (Raced in 4+ at Dorney) | 8 | 5 |
| 22 March 2019 | Oxford | | 1 (Raced in 2– from Putney to Mile Post) | 9 | 5 |
| 14 March 2020 | Oxford | | Canvas (Raced in 2- from Putney to Mile Post) | 10 | 5 |
| 23 May 2021 | Oxford | | 1 (Raced in 2- at Ely) | 11 | 5 |
| 18 March 2022 | Cambridge | | 2 (Raced in 2- from Putney to Mile Post) | 11 | 6 |
| 18 March 2023 | Cambridge | | 5 (Raced in 2- from Harrods to Putney) | 11 | 7 |
| 27 March 2024 | Cambridge | | 4 (Raced in 2- from Putney to Mile Post) | 11 | 8 |

### Lightweight Women's Reserves (Tethys vs CUBC Lightweight Women's Reserves)

* Cambridge: 5
* Oxford: 2
Raced on the Friday before the main event in a 4+ in 2012, and incorporated into main race day in 2016.
| Date | Winner | Time | Winning Margin (Lengths) | Oxford Wins | Cambridge Wins |
| 2012 | Cambridge | | (Raced in 4+, CUBC had open weight rowers who did not weigh-in, OUWLRC had a lightweight crew) | - | 1 |
| 19 March 2016 | Cambridge | 8:55 | 3⁄4 (Raced in 2-) | - | 2 |
| 26 March 2017 | Cambridge | | easily (Raced in 2-) | - | 3 |
| 18 March 2018 | Oxford | 8:15 | easily (Raced in 4+ at Dorney) | 1 | 3 |
| 30 March 2019 | Cambridge | | 1+1⁄2 (Raced in 2-) | 1 | 4 |
| 14 March 2020 | Oxford | | 7 (Raced in 4+ from Putney to Hammersmith) | 2 | 4 |
| 18 May 2021 | Cambridge | | Oxford unable to field a crew | 2 | 5 |
| 19 March 2022 | Oxford | | Cambridge unable field a crew | 3 | 5 |
| 18 March 2023 | Cambridge | | 3 (Raced in 4+ from Harrods to Putney, CUBC boat had 3 openweight rowers who did not weigh-in) | 3 | 6 |