Buildup

On 23 February 2019, CUWBC faced a crew from Nereus Rowing Club in two races along sections of the Championship Course. In good weather conditions, the first piece saw Nereus take an early lead, the Dutch crew holding a length's lead by Fulham Wall. CUWBC's cox steered a wide course into slower water allowing Nereus to extend their lead to three lengths by the Mile Post. Although CUWBC reduced the deficit by a length on the approach to the Harrods Furniture Depository, the race concluded at Chiswick Steps with Nereus two lengths ahead. The second race, from Chiswick Eyot to the finishing post, started well for Cambridge, who held a slender lead until Barnes Bridge whereupon Nereus drew level, and following a push, crossed the finishing line a quarter of a length ahead. Two days later, OUWBC raced in a three-piece set of five-minute races along the Championship Course against Imperial College, umpired by Richard Phelps. Starting from Putney Bridge, the first race saw Oxford take an early lead which they extended with ease to pass the winning line at Harrods by four lengths. Imperial started the second race, commencing from St Paul's School, with a length's head start. Oxford were level within two minutes and despite being warned for steering infringements, went on to win the race by three lengths. The third piece started with a half-length head start to Imperial, and once again, although Oxford were warned for aggressive steering, they closed the gap quickly and had clear water advantage with two minutes of the race remaining. They won the race by three and a half lengths.
CUWBC raced their final fixture on 3 March 2019 against Oxford Brookes University Boat Club (OBUBC) in three pieces. Taking place in poor and worsening conditions, the first race, from the start to the Mile Post, was close throughout, but Cambridge led from the outset and passed the finish line half a length ahead. The second piece, from Harrods to Chiswick Steps, once again saw Cambridge take the lead and with OBUBC's cox steering to avoid windy conditions, CUWBC pulled away to a clear win. The final race, from the Bandstand to the finishing post, was dominated again by Cambridge, who coped with the difficult conditions better than their opposition, to win by three and a half lengths. OUWBC faced a crew from Molesey in a two-piece set along the Championship Course on 23 March 2019. In the first race, from Putney to Chiswick Eyot, Molesey took an early lead, but with the course of the river in the Dark Blues' favour, OUWBC drew level by Craven Cottage, on the straight towards Hammersmith Bridge. OUWBC continued to press and extended their lead out to one and a half lengths before passing the finish line at Chiswick. The second piece, between Chiswick and the finishing post, saw Molesey take the lead once again before Oxford redressed the balance by Barnes Bridge. A hard-fought race ended with OUWBC passing the finishing line a quarter of a length ahead.
OUBC were scheduled to race against OBUBC on 10 March 2019, but the fixture was postponed as a result of poor weather conditions. The fixture was reorganised and took place on 17 March 2019, in two pieces. The first race was from Chiswick Steps to Beverley Brook, and despite OUBC winning the toss and taking the more favourable Surrey side of the river, it was Oxford Brookes who took the early lead. By Hammersmith Bridge, OBUBC had a clear water advantage over the Dark Blues, finishing the race well ahead. The second piece, along the same section of the Championship Course, saw the crews switch starting stations, but a similar outcome. OUBC made a good start but OBUBC quickly overtook them and pulled away to win comfortably. On 23 March 2019, OUBC raced against Leander Club from the Championship Course start line to Chiswick Steps. From the start, it was a close fixture with neither boat showing real dominance and the umpire Rob Clegg having to issue multiple warnings as both crews infringed each other's racing line. Oxford held a slight lead by the Mile Post but Leander responded to draw level as the crews passed Harrods, and took the lead at Chiswick Eyot. Warned once again by the umpire, Leander course correction allowed the Dark Blues into faster water, and into a canvas lead which they held to the conclusion of the race.
The fixture between CUBC and OBUBC was due to be held on 13 March 2019 but was postponed because of adverse weather. Instead, it was held on 24 March. The OBUBC crew included World Champion gold medallist Matthew Tarrant and former Dark Blue Josh Bugajski. In the first of two pieces, CUBC took early advantage and were ahead at the Mile Post, but Oxford Brookes responded at Harrods with a push to see them move ahead. With the bend in the river against the Light Blues, OBUBC extended their lead to three-quarters of a length along Chiswick Eyot and winning the race. The second piece once again saw CUBC take the lead, almost out to a length, before a clash of oars resulted in one of the CUBC oarsmen catching a crab. OBUBC moved past Cambridge and despite efforts to row with a broken backstay, CUBC ended the race nearly a length behind their opponents.