Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship rowers will be among the crews competing in a virtual boat race for charity on Saturday.

The race has been introduced following the postponement of the annual Oxbridge event.

It will see participants compete on ergometers - exercise machines - from their own homes as they bid to claim the coveted victory while also raising money for Power2Inspire - a charity which supports inclusivity in sport.

The rowers - both able and non-able bodied - will compete for boats titled Oxford and Cambridge and cover a distance of 6.8km.

 As they row, the scores from each will be added together to make a ’combined boat score’.

The first virtual boat to cross the line, wins.

Among those taking part are Rio Paralympic champion Grace Clough, world champion Oliver Cook and double Olympic medallist Tom Ransley.

Cook, who is representing Oxford said: "The opportunity to compete with, and against, such skilled oarspeople, while also raising awareness of the need for more inclusivity in sports was something I couldn’t turn down. 

“This virtual boat race is what we all need in times like these, and I hope the viewers at home enjoy it as much as we will, and if they can, donate to the great cause behind it,” he added.

The event was the brainchild of John Willis, who also founded the charity.

He was born without fully formed limbs and said he struggled during his childhood as he was excluded from most sporting activity.

He created the charity to ensure children did not have to experience the same adversities he faced and is determined for the event to be a success.

Ahead of the launch he said: “I was a cox at Cambridge, and beyond, and when I saw the success of the Power2Inspire Inclusive Festivals - including badminton, hockey, tennis and golf – that we run, I was determined to find a way to make a rowing event with the same philosophy, to encourage people of different abilities to participate together.”

The event takes place at 3pm on Saturday June 13 and can be viewed on Power2Inspire’s Give as You Live page.

The two crews are:

Oxford - Amelia Standing, Pete Reed, Grace Clough, Oliver Cook (C), Jan Ole Ernst, Martha Birtles, Alex Webb, Amy Hosking

Cambridge - Miranda Clements, Renae Domaschenz, Jan Helmich, Freddie Markanday, Sophie Paine, Ollie Parish, Tom Ransley, Pippa Whittaker