The annual Boat Race on the Thames faced challenges as sewage pollution became a major concern, affecting rowers and sparking public outrage. Cambridge emerged victorious in both men's and women's events, with reports of sickness among Oxford crew members. The contaminated river raised health risks and environmental criticisms, leading to calls for urgent action and accountability from water companies and government officials.
'You’d think the sixth richest nation could manage basic sanitation but in 2024 in the UK you’d be wrong.' @MrSteveNAllen says 'it’s an embarrassment that we can’t even hold an event on our rivers now' after the Boat Race water controversy. https://t.co/UbaMZGnqO5
It is a disgrace that holidaymakers have been warned to stay out of Britain's waters. Labour will put the water companies under special measures and give the regulator powers to block bosses bonuses until they have cleaned up their toxic filth. https://t.co/TxX9E9DESy
Oxford Boat Race star makes crazy 'poo' admission as government told to intervene https://t.co/O1M4ggtmQn
Rishi Sunak wouldn’t let toxic sewage in his private swimming pool, yet he has allowed the water companies to pollute our beautiful rivers, lakes and seas. Labour would ban the payment of bonuses to polluting water bosses. https://t.co/PqfeJa1Xqk
The Thames is the lifeblood of our city & the amount of dirty sewage that flows into it is a national scandal. Ministers must urgently introduce legislation that forces the privatised water companies to act. I’ll continue fighting for the clean and safe river network Londoners… https://t.co/OjWerXtZeY
‘We need to get rid of this government…clean up this mess!’ Jim Dale says we need to get rid of the Conservative Party if the Thames Water crisis is ever going to be solved. https://t.co/QlgUNWYBhl
Boat Race organisers ask defeated Oxford crew to clarify sickness claims https://t.co/xO5XShSgc4
'It's not just rowers who are struggling it's all river users' Team GB rowing coxswain Erin Kennedy spoke to #BBCBreakfast after University of Oxford rowers criticised sewage levels in the Thames after losing the Boat Race to Cambridge https://t.co/TczXzYYVZb https://t.co/Z0esnekRzo
An Oxford Rower has claimed the boat team suffered with an E.Coli outbreak. Paralympic Champion Erin Kennedy tells Sky News about the increasing levels of pollution in UK rivers and how there is little they can do to tackle the problem. https://t.co/nkKzOrv6jU 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/waO0rqRR10
Well, well would you look at that. @thameswater dumping sewage into the Thames even during the boat race. Rather conveniently the sewage monitor at Hammersmith Bridge, halfway down the course, according to TW "Isn't currently working correctly. We'll fix it as soon as possible". https://t.co/KhRdQrzwW0
Oxford cox reveals sickness suffered by team ahead of Boat Race https://t.co/vwByZRB9Eh
BREAKING: @thameswater spilled raw sewage during #BoatRace2024💩 From Cobham & Windsor through Reading, Oxford & Cheltenham pollution spewed into #Thames Can there be any doubt who is responsible for 🤮poisoning rowers with E.coli?🦠 When will @DefraGovUK PUNISH POLLUTERS?😡 https://t.co/n68OQXsGUR
This Easter, holiday makers, beachgoers and wild swimmers have been warned against swimming in dozens of rivers and coastal areas across England. Back Labour's plan to clean up our waters 👇
Even the BBC story on the boat race, the most cosy non-political thing you could read about, contains the phrase: "It would be a lot nicer if there wasn't as much poo in the water."
Oxford Boat Race crew reveal sickness problems after Cambridge double up https://t.co/Eb5Ze2RsyD
Boat Race 2024: Cambridge comfortably beat Oxford in both men's and women's races. The real story here is the state of the water. Not just the Thames but around the entire country. I wouldn't dip a toe in it. https://t.co/AKsw34UcY3
‘You wouldn’t put your dog in this river’: Boat Race exposes Thames Water failings https://t.co/7Fc1rneXCs
Boat Race rower complains of 'so much poo in the water' after throwing up and keeping illness quiet https://t.co/XEqp1P1bKZ
Water firms have been accused of an "environmental cover up" as fresh figures revealed one in seven sewage monitors - meant to record spills - were faulty. Read more 🔗 https://t.co/KFJG7owieP
Cambridge double their double against Oxford in boat race https://t.co/qKg7NhDXDI https://t.co/7MD0eDhUK9
Cambridge extended its dominant run in the annual Boat Race with victories in the men’s and women’s events on a polluted River Thames on Saturday. https://t.co/fsY1P0iU6N
A third of Thames Water sewage monitors do not properly function, new analysis of official data reveals The latest revelation over Thames Water was part of data which showed a record number of sewage spills across the UK last year following wet weather https://t.co/WCo1vZlAH1
Congratulations @Cambridge_Uni on winning both men's and women's boat races today - and the men's reserves too! We're so proud that 2 students from @GirtonCollege were among those selected to row for #Cambridge #boatrace2024. https://t.co/D2rsx3Lk2a
'I am absolutely appalled. This is environmental vandalism.' Lizzie Cundy reacts to reports that sewage spills into rivers by water companies have more than doubled in 2023. 🔓 Become a GB News Member: https://t.co/mNsRsGC8ef https://t.co/GGpRcGBmvJ
Cambridge's stroke was so exhausted that his blade barely touched the water for the final stretch, but his crew held on to seal a Boat Race double after their women's equivalent had beaten Oxford earlier in the afternoon. 🔽 Read below | ✍️ @patrick_kidd https://t.co/0fl5xgHgoO
Cambridge demolish Oxford in men's Boat Race after heated drama in women's run https://t.co/84sN3zXpX4
Superb #boatrace … well in light blues.
Cambridge on the way to their biggest Boat Race win for 20 years. A great race in the first half, with a clash of oars at Craven Cottage that may lead to another appeal from Oxford, but seems that they'll cruise home
Faulty sewage spill monitors spark accusations of 'environmental cover up' by water firms 🔗 https://t.co/aqZEqpt4jL
My on-the-whistle report on the women's Boat Race. A bit less drama in the men's, it seems, though Matt Pinsent's voice has been well tested in the first half of the race https://t.co/wBBqx4bNpU
Perfect weather to watch a bit of rowing with @elsieortong and @declanmclean #BoatRace #AlwaysALightBlue #ShameAboutTheSewage https://t.co/Fi9hdIEDyd
"Oxford, I'm warning you! Oxford!" Boat Race drama as Oxford (unsuccessfully) appeal against Cambridge's win! #BoatRace2024 https://t.co/lpPWBNa6W8
Exciting to be at #Putney Boat Race starting line!! #boatrace https://t.co/BNNE0kTp1F
A third of Thames Water’s sewage monitors do not work properly, analysis of official figures has revealed ⬇️ https://t.co/SGdX8Sqp9h
‘Absolutely disgusting!’ Britons fume over record levels of sewage recorded in the River Thames https://t.co/vTnvjT5e2O
It's sickening that this Conservative Government has turned a blind eye to illegal sewage dumping, putting thousands in hospital. With Labour, the water companies will be made to clean up their filth or face criminal charges and the blocking of bonuses. https://t.co/xNyB5ye17L
With a Labour government, it will be the mission of every department to build a healthier society. @SteveReedMP will clean up our rivers and seas, so fewer patients end up in hospital with water-borne diseases. https://t.co/135CJAYfE4 https://t.co/89zPV7NOMk
My piece from February seems more prescient now after reading the Environment Agency's rosy view of the sewage spill data this week. Revealed: watchdogs and water bosses had dinner at private London club to discuss how to quell anger over sewage spills https://t.co/vvH7GzXJyW
Under the Tories, the number of people admitted to hospital for water-borne diseases has skyrocketed as sewage continues to pollute Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas. With Labour, the polluter - not the public - will pay 👇 https://t.co/i4UrPT8Gs2
Rise in sewage being pumped into West Midlands rivers by Severn Trent 👇https://t.co/XnRs2UOcSP
Rise in sewage being pumped into West Midlands rivers by Severn Trent https://t.co/XnRs2UOcSP
Rowers in #Putney have been telling me about the health impact of sewage in our rivers for years. The ecoli warnings to rowers in the #boatrace today is making international news. The Government and Thames Water have failed us. https://t.co/8ItUDjkq5M
What time is The Boat Race 2024? TV channel, weather and latest Oxford vs Cambridge odds https://t.co/Zvaf0D9vKW
Oxford favourite for women’s race but men’s version too close to call - Floods and sewage add new twist to this year’s slog on the Thames Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/2AiA1oyNx5
Welcome to #Putney! #boatrace https://t.co/1Ss4KqngVV
Privatised water firms take our dumps, dump them in our rivers, then dump on us from a great height with the clean-up bill. Welcome to Stool Britannia...a column https://t.co/LiitH4rZ2R
It’s @theboatrace day and good to be sent back to the river, swollen by the winter of unending rain and sewage, to preview it for @TimesSport https://t.co/2NnIBTwzAI
‘Would you swim in that?’: Salford residents and visitors bemoan contaminated river https://t.co/WXgcKT1yhA