UK
Chaos on the Thames as Women’s Boat Race restarted after dramatic collision
Race umpire and four-time Olympic champion Sir Matthew Pinsent was forced to pause proceedings
The 2025 Women’s Boat Race was dramatically halted and restarted after the Cambridge and Oxford crews collided less than two minutes into the race.
Race umpire and four-time Olympic champion Sir Matthew Pinsent was forced to pause proceedings on the River Thames after warning signs were ignored and oars began clashing between the two boats.
“There was obviously a clash between the crews,” Pinsent told BBC One after the race. “In my mind, I was warning Oxford in the run-up to that. Two crews were at standstill so they couldn’t keep racing. We had to stop it.
