The 143rd Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 29 March 1997. Umpired by former Oxford rower Tom Cadoux-Hudson, Cambridge won in a time of 17 minutes and 38 seconds. In the reserve race, Cambridge's Goldie beat Oxford's Isis by 6+1⁄2 lengths. Cambridge won the 52nd Women's Boat Race.