Former Olympic champion Martin Cross has voiced his fears over the "bitter" rivalry that threatens to overshadow today's Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge. The build-up to the annual event has been plagued by controversy, with the trial race cancelled after a row over eligibility.

The dispute centred around Cambridge students Matt Heywood, Molly Foxell and Kate Cowley. Oxford complained the trio were ineligible as they are trainee teachers studying for the PGCE, a certificate rather than a degree. An independent panel ruled in favour of banning the trio, and Cross has warned that tension could now boil over.

"I think the rivalry is quite bitter," Cross said to the BBC. "Not bitter between the individual rowers but between club to club. It really is as bad as I've seen it.

"I don't know what Cambridge might say if they win at the finish line. I do think there needs to be some calming down, particularly for Chanel, the new sponsors."

To exacerbate matters, a fourth Cambridge rower, Tom Ford, has since been banned from taking part. The 32-year-old was part of the eight man crew that won gold for Team GB at the 2024 Paris Olympics,

"To be honest, I think Rob Baker might have been in dreamland if he thought Oxford were going to allow Tom Ford, the Olympic champion, to stroke," added Cross. "I mean they were on the ropes and why should they let this guy row when they've made this joint agreement?

"Normally they will object to the other crew's entry in races like this so Oxford have done nothing wrong. You can criticise them if they hadn't made the objection."

The women's Boat Race was set to get underway at 1.21pm. The men's event is set for 2.21pm.