31 Mar 2026
Engineering Science students represent Oxford in the 2026 Boat Races
Seven students from the Department of Engineering Science have been selected to represent Oxford in this year’s Boat Races, taking place on the Tideway in London on the 4th April. Competing across the Blue Boats, reserve crews and lightweight squads, they reflect the department’s strong presence in one of the University’s most iconic sporting events.
DPhil Student Alex Sullivan and undergraduate Alex Underwood, representing Oxford in the Men’s Blue Boat at the 2026 Boat Races. Photo credit: The Boat Race.
Representing Oxford in the Men’s Blue Boat are DPhil Student Alex Sullivan (Oriel College), racing in the 7 seat, and undergraduate Alex Underwood (Pembroke College) in the 5 seat. In the reserve crews, DPhil student Karol Roman (Pembroke College) will compete in the men’s Isis crew. Fourth-year MEng student Nikhil Karun (Christ Church College) will cox the women’s spare 4+ race.
On racing in the Blue Boat, Alex Sullivan said:
“It’s a dream come true to have the opportunity to participate in the Boat Race. Oxford is one of the few places in the world where you can study and row at such a high level and in such a prestigious race. Being able to pursue my two passions, rowing and research, is a true privilege but comes with its own set of difficulties. Strong time management, getting work done early and making hard choices about what to prioritise are key to finding the right balance.”
Reflecting on his experience, Nikhil said:
“It’s an honour to be part of OUBC this year. Being able to balance this with challenging but interesting research has made it even more special.”
In the lightweight squads, Eli Arie (Balliol College), a third-year MEng student, will race in the Men’s Lightweight Eight, while Simran Gill will cox the men’s lightweight crew. Lucy Buchanan (Balliol College), DPhil student, will compete in the Women’s Lightweight Eight.
Eli Arie highlighted the intensity of combining sport and study:
“There’s never a quiet day balancing rowing with an engineering degree, but I’ve had so many unforgettable experiences training with OUBC this year and I’m excited to be representing Oxford.”
Simran Gill added:
“Trialling for OUBC has been an amazing experience that has added so much to my time at Oxford so far. Balancing training with my course has been challenging, but it’s taught me to become more efficient with my time.”
Oxford’s crews will once again face Cambridge in one of the world’s most historic sporting rivalries. Cambridge has won the last three Men’s Blue Boat races (2023–2025), while Oxford last secured victory in 2022. In the Women’s Blue Boat, Cambridge has dominated recent years, winning the last four races (2022–2025). This year, Oxford’s crews will be aiming to challenge that momentum with strong squads across all categories.
Watch the races live
The Boat Races will be broadcast on BBC One and available to stream via BBC iPlayer in the UK. International viewers can watch via The Boat Race YouTube channel.
The Department congratulates all Engineering Science students involved and wishes them the very best for race day.
