- The highly-anticipated Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford will take place on the 30th of March
- The long-standing rivals – who have competed for 194 years – will go head-to-head once more in two months
- Ahead of the action, Mail Sport’s ANDY HOOPER visited the Cambridge team during their practice
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Welcome back to the Soul of Sport. For the latest episode of the series, ANDY HOOPER travelled to Cambridge to watch an early morning training session with their boat crew.
This year’s Boat Race between universities Cambridge and Oxford will commence on 30 March, with anticipation for the event already beginning to build.
The event will mark the the 78th Women’s Race and the 169th Men’s Race in the long-standing rivalry between to the two academic giants.
Last year, Cambridge claimed victory in both the Men’s and Women’s race and it’s clear to see why given their hard-work and dedication leading up to the event – which was exemplified during a recent training session.
Our cameraman was on hand to capture the action using Nikon Z9, Z8 cameras and a Dji drone during the early morning practice…
![Cambridge's boat team hit the water at 6:30am as their early morning training session got underway on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288053-12990025-Cambridge_s_boat_team_hit_the_water_at_6_30am_as_their_early_mor-a-1_1705921467472.jpg)
Cambridge’s boat team hit the water at 6:30am as their early morning training session got underway on Saturday
![The crew begin their warm-ups, prior to going out on the water, as the sun shines through into the gym](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288051-12990025-The_crew_begin_their_warm_ups_prior_to_going_out_onto_the_water_-a-2_1705921467476.jpg)
The crew begin their warm-ups, prior to going out on the water, as the sun shines through into the gym
![After the session, the crew reconvened in one of the buildings to enjoy snacks, drinks and other refreshments](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288061-12990025-After_the_session_the_crew_reconvened_in_one_of_the_buildings_to-a-3_1705921467477.jpg)
After the session, the crew reconvened in one of the buildings to enjoy snacks, drinks and other refreshments
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288087-12990025-image-a-4_1705921467481.jpg)
![One crew member opted for a Nutella sandwich, while others looked towards a bagel with honey as their post-training treat](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288089-12990025-One_crew_member_opted_for_a_Nutella_sandwich_while_others_looked-a-5_1705921467482.jpg)
One crew member opted for a Nutella sandwich, while others looked towards a bagel with honey as their post-training treat
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288091-12990025-image-a-6_1705921467486.jpg)
![One of the crew members is seen, with two oars in hand, preparing the boats for the practice just after 6am](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288093-12990025-One_of_the_crew_members_is_seen_with_two_oars_in_hand_preparing_-a-7_1705921467488.jpg)
One of the crew members is seen, with two oars in hand, preparing the boats for the practice just after 6am
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288099-12990025-image-a-8_1705921467492.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288103-12990025-image-a-9_1705921467494.jpg)
![Preparations for the practice session got well underway prior to sunrise on the chilly Saturday morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288115-12990025-Preparations_for_the_practice_session_got_well_underway_prior_to-a-10_1705921467497.jpg)
Preparations for the practice session got well underway prior to sunrise on the chilly Saturday morning
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288117-12990025-image-a-11_1705921467501.jpg)
![A close-up look at the eight-man boat that the crew members will use for the Gemini Boat Race in March](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288119-12990025-A_close_up_look_at_the_eight_man_boat_that_the_crew_members_will-a-12_1705921467503.jpg)
A close-up look at the eight-man boat that the crew members will use for the Gemini Boat Race in March
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288121-12990025-image-a-13_1705921467507.jpg)
![Crew members inspect, prepare and carry the boats, prior to going out on the river Great Ouse, near Ely](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288123-12990025-Crew_members_inspect_prepare_and_carry_the_boats_prior_to_going_-a-14_1705921467509.jpg)
Crew members inspect, prepare and carry the boats, prior to going out on the river Great Ouse, near Ely
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288135-12990025-image-a-15_1705921467513.jpg)
![With an oar draped over either shoulder, one student made their way out of the building ahead of their training](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288137-12990025-With_an_oar_draped_over_either_shoulder_one_student_made_their_w-a-16_1705921467514.jpg)
With an oar draped over either shoulder, one student made their way out of the building ahead of their training
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288151-12990025-image-a-17_1705921467518.jpg)
![In the pitch black, crew members carried equipment to the water-front, as they stepped up preparations for March's event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288157-12990025-In_the_pitch_black_crew_members_carried_equipment_to_the_water_f-a-18_1705921467520.jpg)
In the pitch black, crew members carried equipment to the water-front, as they stepped up preparations for March’s event
![The crews perform a series of stretches and other exercise routines, just after 6am, before heading out on the water](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288161-12990025-The_crews_perform_a_series_of_stretches_and_other_exercise_routi-a-19_1705921467524.jpg)
The crews perform a series of stretches and other exercise routines, just after 6am, before heading out on the water
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288185-12990025-image-a-20_1705921467525.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288199-12990025-image-a-21_1705921467529.jpg)
![One boat - filled with eight Cambridge students - sets sail down the river Great Ouse on Saturday morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288201-12990025-One_boat_filled_with_eight_Cambridge_students_sets_sail_down_the-a-22_1705921467531.jpg)
One boat – filled with eight Cambridge students – sets sail down the river Great Ouse on Saturday morning
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288205-12990025-image-a-23_1705921467535.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288207-12990025-image-a-24_1705921467536.jpg)
![The Cambridge team row past acres of fields, a small bridge and a small group of houses placed by the river](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288209-12990025-The_Cambridge_team_row_past_acres_of_fields_a_small_bridge_and_a-a-25_1705921467539.jpg)
The Cambridge team row past acres of fields, a small bridge and a small group of houses placed by the river
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288211-12990025-image-a-26_1705921467540.jpg)
![The famous Ely Cathedral could be spotted from afar as it jutted out beyond the trees, in the distance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/22/11/80288235-12990025-The_famous_Ely_Cathedral_could_be_spotted_from_afar_as_it_jutted-a-27_1705921467544.jpg)
The famous Ely Cathedral could be spotted from afar as it jutted out beyond the trees, in the distance