2026 Fixture Series: Cambridge sweeps hard-fought contests
In a series of fiercely contested fixtures over the weekend, Cambridge crews delivered a sweep, securing victories over Leander and Molesey, in one of the final tests ahead of The Boat Race 2026.
Our thanks go to all crews for high‑quality racing, to our host families for their generous support, and to everyone who came out to cheer the crews on.
Men’s Blue Boat v Leander ‘A’
Result: Cambridge by 3/4 length
| Seat | Name |
| Cox | Sammy Houdaigui |
| Stroke | Freddy Breuer |
| 7 | Will Klipstine |
| 6 | Alexander McClean |
| 5 | Gabriel Obholzer |
| 4 | Patrick Wild |
| 3 | Kyle Fram |
| 2 | Noam Mouelle |
| Bow | Simon Hatcher |
Race Report: Kyle Fram
Kyle Fram reporting again from the Cambridge 3-seat with our last fixture before The Boat Race. This weekend we raced Leander Club from the Start to Chiswick Steps. We were happy to see Leander made up of familiar faces including the 2025 Coxless Four (M4-) World Champions and George Bourne, Douwe De Graaf, and James Robson from last year’s winning Cambridge Blue Boat. We appreciated the strong contingent of fans lining the banks and Hammersmith Bridge as well.
We launched under sunny skies and a buzzing atmosphere around the Embankment. During the warmup, the skies darkened ominously and a low headwind kicked the water into a stir. We lined up on Surrey thanks to an impressive coin toss performance by strokeman Freddy Breuer. Our start went off well, holding even for the first few strokes before catapulting out to a ⅓ length lead. Leander put in a move into the Fulham bend, pulling even and then ½ length ahead to lead us into the Crabtree reach. Sammy took an aggressive and fast line into their water, narrowly avoiding contact and pressing us into a bold move to gain back a few seats.
Around this point, heavy wakes from motorboat traffic rolled through the course. Amidst the resultant bobbles of the Crabtree reach, we managed to take a bit more back on them and pull just about even by Harrod’s. Another wake rolled through and we took another canvas by Hammersmith, now narrowly ahead. We quickly advanced to a ½ length advantage, thanks to Cambridge supporters’ roars from the bridge and quick thinking by cox Sammy to push wide around a stray navigation buoy and monopolize the stream.
Cox Sammy called for a move around the St. Paul’s boathouse and I saw Paul’s alumnus Patrick Wild add some power from the 4-seat. Nonetheless the Leander boat began to creep up on us again, clawing back a deck after the bend evened out. Strokeman Freddy Breuer and 7-seat Will Klipstine revved up the rate in the last stretch down Chiswick Eyot to fend off their move and we extended the margin to just over ¾ length by the finish.
Thank you to Leander for some gritty racing. Best of luck in your upcoming races. And as always, thank you to the host families who house and feed us for these weekends down in Putney. We’re excited for The Boat Race up next!
Goldie v Leander ‘B’
Result: First piece to Goldie by 3/4 length, second piece to Goldie by 1 1/2 length
| Seat | Name |
| Cox | Freya Jenkinson |
| Stroke | Matt Edge |
| 7 | Luke Beever |
| 6 | Simon Nunayon |
| 5 | Leonard Brahms |
| 4 | Alex Finger |
| 3 | Calvin Tarczy |
| 2 | George Dickinson |
| Bow | Joe Travis |
Race Report: Matt Edge
Following some productive weeks of training since our last fixture, Goldie was keen to square up against the strong Leander crew that faced Oxford a month before. Leander won the toss and chose the Surrey station leaving Goldie on Middlesex for the first time this year. It didn’t seem to bother as both crews got out well and Cambridge began to build momentum towards the first bend at Craven Cottage. By two minutes in, Goldie had taken a half length advantage and were pushing wide to take full advantage of their corner. As both crews rounded Barn Elms, the lead grew to three quarters of a length. Leander responded well to stay in the race and checked Cambridge’s advance down the Crabtree reach. Approaching Harrods, the crews came together and spoons overlapped. Neither crew faltered in the clash, but Goldie came out the better, holding their margin round the first section of the Surrey bend. Shooting Hammersmith, the crews turned and Leander began to draw up alongside, closing the margin to just under half a length. Goldie stayed calm and began to turn the screws, knuckling down for a sprint to the line. As the Surrey bend continued, the crews came together once again but separated promptly on instruction. Once again, Cambridge came out of the clash with the momentum and began to draw out around the outside. The white flag of the umpire was then swapped for red as the race had to be stopped just before the Eyot for a loose sailing buoy and the crews wound down with Goldie holding a three-quarter length lead.
A short break then ensued as rather than spin and row up the Eyot, both crews simply floated down to the start. With the wash of returning launches reeling off the banks, the second piece to the Championship Course finish got underway. This time Leander had the better start and used the last advantage of their Surrey bend well, taking several seats in the first minute. But as the bend ran out and the crews settled onto pace, Goldie drew up level approaching the bandstand. Knowing their bend was about to unfold and they had the momentum, they stepped on and moved through Leander on the inside, taking three quarters of a length in the minute to Barnes Bridge. Both coxes wrestled for position but navigated the bridge safely and Cambridge could once again slingshot round their bend to make a move, breaking to clear water shortly after. In the last minutes of the race Goldie moved out slowly but Leander chased well on the outside station. Towards the line, a final boat joined the race as the crews caught up to the PLA boat in front and had to navigate either side of it. Across the line, Goldie led the PLA boat by half a length on the inside while Leander were a further length behind to give an official verdict of 1 1/2 lengths.
Many thanks to Leander for some excellent racing as always, and we wish them all the best for the rest of their season. Goldie are looking forward to race week and taking the fight to Isis on the 4th April!
Blondie v Molesey (composite crew)
Result: First piece to Blondie by 3 lengths, Second piece to Blondie by 2 lengths
| Seat | Name |
| Cox | Lauren Schneiderman |
| Stroke | Eloise Etherington |
| 7 | Lyndsey Bryden |
| 6 | Mathilda Kitzmann |
| 5 | Alex Wiley |
| 4 | Ellie Sillar |
| 3 | Nicky Wojtania |
| 2 | Lucy Havard |
| Bow | Fizz McNally |
Race Report: Ellie Sillar
On a grey but beautifully still day, Blondie faced Molesey in our third and final fixture of 2026. Blondie won the coin toss and chose the Surrey station where we remained for both pieces. In the first piece (approximately 4.2km), Molesey got off to a quick start and took around half a length in the first minute. Over the next 2km they continued to move on Blondie but never managed to break contact. Past Harrods, Blondie’s strong base pace rhythm allowed us to walk us back through to level. Blondie capitalised on this and continued taking seats, culminating in a well-timed push just past Hammersmith bridge. We then took advantage of the inside of the Surrey bend to break contact and gain clear water. Blondie proceeded to lengthen this advantage out, finishing with a 3-length margin by the end of the piece at Chiswick steps.
Following a quick chat, the two crews lined up again. Blondie improved our start in order to take a lead from the beginning of the second piece. We continued to walk, establishing a three-quarter length lead around the Bandstand. Through Barnes Bridge, Molesey fought hard and halted Blondie’s advance, launching a move which allowed them to take back a couple of seats. However, coming into the last kilometre of the race, Blondie still had more to give. As we ramped up the speed for one final push, we saw clear water open up between our stern and Molesey’s bow. The piece finished with a 2-length margin to Blondie.
Many thanks to everyone who made the day possible, particularly to Molesey Boat Club for two exciting races, and to Caroline Lytton for umpiring.
Women’s Lightweights v Molesey (composite crew)
Result: First piece to Cambridge by 3/4 lengths, second piece to Cambridge by two lengths.
| Seat | Name |
| Cox | Lidya Acar |
| Stroke | Bella Munro |
| 7 | Hannah Major |
| 6 | Helena Olandi |
| 5 | Jay Manson-Whitton |
| 4 | Zara Bek |
| 3 | Olivia Wright |
| 2 | Hannah Warren |
| Bow | Lauren Allegretti |
Race Report: Lauren Allegretti
Back on the Tideway a week after some exciting racing at WEHoRR, we lined up against a composite Molesey crew for a two-piece side-by-side test along the Championship Course. Molesey won the toss, taking the Middlesex station, with Cambridge on Surrey. The first piece ran from the start to the Bandstand, followed by a shorter second piece from the Bandstand to the finish.
In the first piece, Molesey served up a punishing start, quickly capitalising along the Middlesex bend as a few seats became two lengths. A gutsy move from their cox saw them cut into the stream just ahead of us, sending heavy, dirty water across the boat. But even through the wash, we remained locked into a ruthless rhythm until the umpire’s call cut through: “Molesey, move over.” The underdogs were walking back.
The gap began to close. Two lengths became one as the crews sped under Hammersmith, both still looking strong. We held onto Molesey’s bowball as our Surrey bend advantage came into play, carrying momentum into the final stretch. Molesey still led by three-quarters of a length, and by this point many onlookers had already decided the result — some even initially reported it as a Cambridge loss.
But it’s not over until it’s over.
With under 1k to go, the boat was still a lively place to be. Guided by incredible calls from our cox, Lidya Acar, we chipped away inch by inch, seat by seat. Not only did we draw level, but in the final strokes of the race we pushed through to take the win by three-quarters of a length.
In the second piece, we lined up just beyond the Bandstand for a sprint to the finish, with Molesey remaining on Middlesex. Having learned from the first piece, we were ready for their start. This time, we stormed out of the blocks, quickly gaining clear water and taking control of the race early. We held that advantage to the line, finishing with a decisive two-length lead.
Thank you to Molesey for an outstanding day of racing, as well as to our supporters, alumni, the umpires, and Thames for the use of their boathouse. We take a great deal from these races and will look to carry this progress forward into the final phase of preparation ahead of the big day!