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Oxford secured a commanding win against Cambridge in this year’s Women’s Veterans’ Boat Race - one made all the more special for two ������Ƶ alumnae who played a key role.

Victoria Parsons (née Neave) and Ali Cox (née Palmer), both members of ������Ƶ’s blade-winning women’s first eight in 1994, returned to the Tideway to take on their old rivals. Rowing at seven and bow respectively, the pair were instrumental in Oxford’s triumph over a Cambridge crew that featured Olympic medallists Cath Bishop and Sarah Winckless.

“It’s an amazing feeling to beat Cambridge: they are always a formidable adversary,” said Cox. “We had trained hard, alongside work and family responsibilities, and victory by such a large margin was very sweet.”

[2025 Women's Veterans' Boat Race. Credit: Mike Parsons] 

Parsons reflected on how far women’s rowing has come since her student days: “It was a privilege to be racing on the Tideway on the same day as the Lightweight races. This is something that we didn’t get to do in our time, but it is amazing to be celebrating 10 years of the women’s race on the Tideway.”

She added, “I feel proud to still be representing Oxford and setting a marker for Cambridge in this year’s race.”

The veterans' crew’s success was also a reflection of a strong culture of camaraderie and perseverance. “We had a fantastic crew spirit this year and we supported each other remotely to keep training through the long winter months and the many weeks when we couldn’t get on the water,” said Parsons.

She also took the opportunity to highlight the benefits of lifelong sport: “I am a huge advocate for everyone taking part in sport they love as they get older. Exercise not only prolongs physical and mental health, but the team nature of sport provides a nurturing social environment.”

The Oxford veterans are also keen to foster connections with the current student rowing community. “Our women's veterans' crew has a strong and growing relationship with the current OUBC women's squad,” the crew noted. “We are very proud to have shown, in the midst of so many light blue victories, that Oxford can win. We're building our squad for future races—it's important that we have some younger crew members—and we'd love to hear from any OUWBC members who are interested in rowing with us.”

������Ƶ’s role in the crew added an extra layer of pride. “������Ƶ was well represented in the crew,” said Cox. “We rowed together in the blade-winning 1994 women's first eight which reached second place in Summer Eights. That's my favourite rowing memory from New.”

Oxford’s victory this year stands not just as a sporting success, but as a proud moment for ������Ƶ - a testament to a boat club that continues to thrive, inspire, and connect generations of rowers.

[Crew photo from the blade-winning 1994 Women's first eight]