The first challenge was set in 1829 by Cambridge student Charles Merivale and his friend Charles Wordsworth, who was studying at Oxford. Although rowing remains little known in France, it’s a sport of choice in the UK and the US to stand out from other universities. The rivalry soon turned into a high-flying competition, and as early as 1912, some student rowers were even sent to the Olympic Games to assist the national teams. Today, the level achieved by the two teams rivals the best in the sport, but with an extra touch of elegance. And this is where Chanel’s role as main sponsor and timekeeper takes on its full meaning: beyond their high level of teaching, these two universities convey a very “old money” style, giving the sporting event a haute-couture feel that only English people have been able to preserve. As a reminder, only at Wimbledon does tennis continue to be played in white clothes… The J12, a sports watch from the early 2000s, has made a striking comeback in recent years. Everyone can already picture its white and black models on the sturdy arms of rowers. Cambridge now leads Oxford by 6 victories, and nothing could motivate Oxford more than a prestigious new sponsor. See you next spring.