The Boustead Cup is an annual challenge of the Men's First Eight of London Rowing Club and Thames Rowing Club.

The Boustead Cup
Contested by
LRC TRC
First Race 8 March 1947
Annual event since 1947
Current Champion London (2024)
Course The Championship Course
River Thames, London
Course length 4.2 miles (6.8 km)
Trophy The Boustead Cup
Number of wins
London Thames
33 32
There has been a ‘No Race’ in 13 of the years since 1947.


Taking place between February and March, upon a formal challenge from the previous years loser. The race is held over the Championship Course in London, England.

History edit

The Boustead Cup was founded in 1947 by Guy Boustead as an Annual Race between London Rowing Club and Thames Rowing Club. Guy Boustead was the son of J M Boustead, who rowed for Oxford in the University Boat Races of 1875, 1876 and 1877 (the year of the famous “dead heat”).

Course edit

Nearly all the 50 plus races to date have been raced on the ebb tide between Mortlake and Putney (the reverse of the University Boat Race course). The exceptions were in 2000, 2004 and 2005 when the race was rowed between Putney and Mortlake.

Results edit

65 Races Rowed

London - 33 Thames - 32

Results 1947 to 2024 Inclusive

Year Date Winner Verdict
1947 08-Mar LRC 3 lengths
1948 06-Mar TRC 3 lengths
1949 19-Mar LRC ¾ lengths
1950 18-Mar TRC Easily
1951 03-Mar LRC 2 ½ lengths
1952 29-Mar TRC ¾ lengths
1953 13-Dec TRC 2 ½ lengths
1954 12-Dec TRC Easily
1955 No Race
1956 December LRC
1957 December LRC
1958 08-Mar TRC 4 ½ lengths
1959 15-Feb TRC
1960 No Race
1961 12-Mar TRC “Comfortably”
1962 07-Apr TRC *Shortened Course
1963-67 No Race
1968 09-Mar LRC 2¼ lengths
1969 23 and 29 March TRC Decided on HORR results
1970 No Race
1971 06-Mar LRC 18 Secs
1972 No Date Recorded TRC
1973 17-Mar LRC
1974 17-Mar LRC
1975 02-Mar LRC
1976 07-Mar LRC
1977 13-Mar LRC
1978 05-Mar LRC
1979 04-Mar LRC
1980 24-Feb LRC
1981 01-Mar TRC
1982 No Race
1983 20-Feb LRC
1984 19-Feb TRC “Wide margin”
1985 03-Mar TRC
1986 No Race
1987 08-Mar TRC
1988 21-Feb LRC
1989 05-Mar TRC
1990 04-Mar LRC
1991 10-Mar TRC
1992 01-Mar LRC
1993 07-Mar TRC Easily
1994 06-Mar LRC
1995 26-Feb LRC
1996 10-Mar LRC
1997 09-Mar LRC 50 seconds
1998 08-Mar TRC Not Rowed Out
1999 14-Mar LRC 28 seconds
2000 05-Mar TRC LRC disqualified
2001 No Race
2002 03-Mar TRC Canvas
2003 09-Mar TRC ½ length
2004 22-Feb LRC 1 m. 2 secs.
2005 27-Feb LRC 20 seconds
2006 25-Feb TRC ½ length (shortened course)
2007 11-Feb LRC 30 seconds
2008 03-Feb LRC 14 seconds (shortened course)
2009 01-Mar LRC 1 lengths (to TRC flagpole)
2010 28-Feb TRC 2½ lengths (shortened course)
2011 06-Mar LRC LRC Rowed Over
2012 18-Feb LRC TRC Disqualified
2013 17-Feb LRC 5 lengths
2014 12-Apr TRC 50 seconds
2015 15-Feb TRC 48 seconds
2016 14-Feb TRC 20 seconds
2017 25-Feb TRC 23 seconds (shortened course)
2018 10-Feb TRC
2019 17-Feb TRC
2020-21 No Race
2022 06-Mar TRC Easily
2023 11-Feb TRC 2 Seats
2024 28-Jan LRC 1¼ lengths

Women's Cup edit

The Boustead Cup is also supplemented by The Rayner Cup, which was introduced in 2019 a challenge between the women's crews.

External links edit