A new study has revealed that five per cent of the British public believe they are capable of beating the fastest time ever recorded in The Boat Race.
For those unaware, The Boat Race is an annual side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, a rivalry that dates back to the 13th century.
The event, which has previously attracted over 250,000 spectators to the banks of the River Thames, takes place on a 4.25-mile course that stretches between Putney and Mortlake.
It is widely regarded as one of the world’s oldest sporting rivalries, with the first men's inaugural fixture taking place in 1829.
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The record time over the course in the men’s Boat Race is 16 minutes 19 seconds, set by Cambridge in 1998. For the women’s Boat Race, the record is 18 minutes 33 seconds, set by Cambridge in 2017.
Ahead of the upcoming event on Saturday (April 4), new research commissioned by Channel 4 has revealed that one in 20 Brits believe they could beat that fastest ever Boat Race time.
In terms of those who have the most self-belief, nearly one in five people in Sunderland think they could outpace the elite rowers, while York (16%), Newcastle (15%) and Wrexham (10%) are also confident.
However, most Brits are more realistic about their chances. Over a third admit it would take them more than an hour to complete the course, with that figure rising to over half in cities such as Swansea (56%), Walsall (56%) and Blackpool (55%).
In fact, around 21% of the British public believe rowing The Boat Race is harder than running a marathon, while some even ranked it tougher than going a week without a smartphone (I know, scary).
One thing most people agree on, meanwhile, is that the Boat Race is one of the UK's most iconic sporting events.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: “The Boat Race is a unique part of British sporting culture, blending history, rivalry and world-class athleticism. What’s fascinating is how it inspires both admiration and confidence - with many Brits believing they could take on the challenge themselves.”
When is The Boat Race?
On the afternoon of Saturday, April 4, The Boat Race will be broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 from 13.30-16.30. The women's race will begin at 14:21, and the men's will follow at 15:21.
Do you think you could beat the record? Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Other
Jack Kenmare