Clare Balding has abandoned the Grand National to host the Boat Race . Clare Balding will abandon the Grand National next month to host the Boat Race because it is the first time coverage will also include the women ’ s race . The date of the Oxford-Cambridge rowing race clashes with the Aintree event , which she has covered for 21 years . The Bafta-winning presenter , 44 , told the Racing Post : ‘ I knew I couldn ’ t do the Grand National because of the Boat Race . ' I have not been quiet about my commitment to women ’ s sport and next year will be a really historic moment because the Women ’ s Boat Race will be on TV for the very first time . ' I would have liked to do both events , but whereas I ’ ve covered the last 21 Grand Nationals I ’ ve never covered the Women ’ s Boat Race . ‘ I felt I couldn ’ t say all I say about women in sport and then not be there that first time the women are on the tideway. ’ Yesterday one of her Twitter followers , Kev Doolan , wrote : ‘ Still can ’ t believe you are doing the Boat Race over the Grand National # deserter. ’ She responded : ‘ For the record , the Grand National doesn ’ t need my help , women ’ s sport does. ’ After Mr Doolan said he was upset she was leaving the Grand National after 21 years because she was such a good presenter , she added : ‘ You ’ re very kind but it ’ s a very good team at C4 and I don ’ t think you ’ ll even notice I ’ m not there . And I believe that sometimes you ’ ve got to do something unexpected to make your point . My point being women ’ s sport matters. ’ She added : ‘ It ’ s a very good team and I don ’ t think you ’ ll even notice I ’ m not there . I believe sometimes you ’ ve got to do something unexpected to make your point . My point being women ’ s sport matters. ’ Miss Balding has long been an advocate of women ’ s sport and believes that in recent years female athletes have been taken more seriously . She told The Independent last year : ‘ I ’ ve felt that , especially since London 2012 , the demand for a variety of women ’ s sport is there from the public . ‘ They ’ re interested , they ’ re engaged and I have the feeling that in the next ten years we are going to see a massively changed cultural landscape . The date of the Oxford-Cambridge rowing race clashes with the Aintree event , which she has covered for 21 years . Pictured : Clare Balding with the Boat Race teams . The Women ’ s Boat Race will be on TV for the very first time . Pictured : The crews from both Oxford and Cambridge . Broadcaster Balding has been covering the Grand National at Aintree for 21 years . ‘ At school I remember saying to my careers teacher that I wanted to be an eventer . She thought I ’ d said “ inventor ” . When I corrected her and told her my ambition was to go to the Olympics she just silently passed on to the next girl , while everyone else in the class laughed . ‘ I would like to think nowadays if any girl said they wanted to be an equestrian , an athlete , a swimmer , a footballer or a cricketer , that would be taken seriously as a career option and they would be properly supported and advised . ’
Aintree will miss the Grand National to host the Boat Race . Oxford-Cambridge rowing race clashes with the Clare Balding event . This year is the first time the women 's race will be shown on TV . Presenter , 44 , has covered the annual Clare Balding event for 21 years . Balding has never covered the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race .