The Boat Race may be one of the most prestigious events on the British sporting calendar, but it started life in 1829 as a simple challenge between schoolfriends.

Cambridge student Charles Merivale challenged Charles Wordsworth of Oxford to a race at Henley-on-Thames, which was won by the latter's crew.

It was not until 1839 that the event relocated to London, with the by now annual race taking place between Westminster and Putney.

However, crowd congestion soon necessitated another move and, in 1845, the race was held for the first time on the current course between Putney and Mortlake.

Honours were split roughly evenly until 1861, when Oxford embarked on the Boat Race's first long unbeaten run, lasting nine years.

In 1877, the race was declared a dead heat for the first and only time in its history - although legend has it that the judge, 'Honest John' Phelps, was asleep under a bush when the crews reached the finishing line.

The 1912 event witnessed another Boat Race first when both boats sank and the race had to be re-run the next day, with Oxford claiming the honours at the second attempt.

The race was not held between 1915 and 1919 due to the First World War. When it resumed in 1920, Cambridge embarked on a lengthy period of domination. They would win the race 13 years running between 1924 and 1936, the longest winning streak in the race's history.

There was another break between 1940 and 1945 because of the Second World War, although four unofficial races were held during this time, all outside London.

The 1952 contest witnessed perhaps the most extreme weather in Boat Race history, with Oxford prevailing in the midst of a blizzard. The dark blues also won the 100^th Boat Race in 1954.

In 1981, Sue Brown became the first female to enter the Boat Race, acting as cox for Oxford. The following year, Hugh and Rob Clay of Oxford became the first twins to win the race.

The dark blues dominated throughout the Eighties, as Cambridge suffered a series of misfortunes. The biggest of these came in 1984, when they managed to write off their boat before the start of the race.

Controversy engulfed Oxford at the 1987 race when a section of the crew rose up in mutiny against the president over team selection policy. However, the dispute, which was chronicled in the book and film 'True Blue', did not prevent them from winning the race again.

Cambridge regained their pride in 1993 by ending Oxford's domination. They subsequently won the race seven years running, the highlight coming in 1998 when they broke the course record by a massive 26 seconds.

Since the turn of the century, Oxford have held the upper hand, although Cambridge still have more overall victories, with 78 to their rivals' 73.

Can Oxford close the gap to just four this year or will Cambridge stretch further ahead? Watch on 7th April to find out.