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One of the world's oldest sporting events will roar into life for around 20 minutes in the heart of London this weekend - the University Boat Race.

For around 186 years male crews from Oxford and Cambridge Universities have rowed down the Thames with thousands of fans lining the banks of the river and millions more watching around the globe.

But this year they won't be alone...

The ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Caroline Rigby explains why.

Picture: The Cambridge rowing team in action (Credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)