The Boat Race 1849 (March)

Last updated

9th Boat Race
Date29 March 1849 (1849-03-29)
WinnerCambridge
Margin of victoryEasily
Winning time22 minutes 0 seconds
Overall record
(CambridgeOxford)
7–2
UmpireJ. C. Fellowes

The 9th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 29 March 1849. Typically held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The race was won by Cambridge who triumphed over Oxford "easily". [1] As a result of the nature of the defeat, Oxford challenged Cambridge to a second race that year, which was to be held in December, the only time the Boat Race was competed for twice in a calendar year. Every member of the Cambridge crew came from Trinity College.

Contents

Background

The Championship Course along which the Boat Race is competed University Boat Race Thames map.svg
The Championship Course along which the Boat Race is competed

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues") [2] and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues"). [2] The race was first held in 1829, and since 1845 has taken place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London. [3] [4] Cambridge went into the race leading overall with six victories to Oxford's two. They had beaten Oxford in the previous race, held in 1845, by three lengths. [1]

Cambridge used an outrigged boat built by Searle, 62 feet 9 inches (19.1 m) in length and 26 inches (66 cm) in width, while the Dark Blues' boat was constructed by Hall of Oxford. [5] The umpire for the race was J. C. Fellowes while the starter was Edward Searle. [6]

Crews

The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 11  st 2.5  lb (70.8 kg), just under 2 pounds (0.9 kg) per rower more than their opponents. [7] Every rower from Cambridge was studying at Trinity College but all were new to the event; not one Blue returned from the 1846 race. F. Blomfield was replaced as the Light Blue cox by George Booth as a result of an accident. [8] Oxford welcomed back E. C. Burton at number four and their cox, C.Soanes. [7]

SirJosephWilliamChitty.jpg
Joseph William Chitty rowed at number two for Oxford.
Waddington.jpg
William Waddington rowed at number six for Cambridge.
SeatCambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg
Oxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg
NameCollegeWeightNameCollegeWeight
Bow H. Proby2nd Trinity9 st 13 lbD. WauchopeWadham10 st 4 lb
2W. J. H. Jones2nd Trinity10 st 13 lb J. W. Chitty Balliol11 st 2 lb
3Albert De Rutzen3rd Trinity11 st 8 lbH. H. TremayneChrist Church11 st 5 lb
4J. C. Holden3rd Trinity11 st 8 lbE. C. BurtonChrist Church11 st 0 lb
5 W. L. G. Bagshawe (P)3rd Trinity11 st 10 lbChas. Holden StewardOriel12 st 0 lb
6 W. H. Waddington 2nd Trinity11 st 10 lbA. MansfieldChrist Church11 st 8 lb
7W. C. Hodgson1st Trinity11 st 2 lbJ. J. SykesWorcester11 st 0 lb
Stroke J. Copley Wray2nd Trinity10 st 12 lbW. G. Rich (P)St John's10 st 8 lb
Cox George Booth1st Trinity10 st 7 lbC. SoanesSt John's10 st 8 lb
Source: [7]
(P) boat club president [9]

Race

No words can express the excitement evinced by the crowds on the banks while the crews remained in this relative position for some moments. But when the Cambridge began to draw ahead, in the same manner as Oxford had previously passed them, the shrieks from the steamers were almost beyond description.

MacMichael [7]

Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station. [10] Just prior to the race, Oxford had suggested a foreshortening of the course, in order to avoid both crews having to pass through the narrow arches of Barnes Bridge; this was rejected by Cambridge and the conventional course was rowed. [11] After a close start, Oxford pulled ahead and held a half-length lead by the time they passed the Star and Garter pub. By Hammersmith Bridge, the Oxford crew began to slow, their cox made an error in steering and Cambridge began to reduce the deficit. At Chiswick Eyot the crews were level once again, and Cambridge started to draw away. Several lengths ahead by Barnes Bridge, Cambridge won by around 60 seconds. [12] The result meant that Cambridge led overall with seven victories to Oxford's two. [1]

Reaction

Three main factors were attributed with Oxford's substantial defeat. Firstly their stroke, and boat club president, William Rich had set such a high rating, he and his crew were unable to sustain it for the duration of the race, becoming quickly tired. Secondly, Rich himself suggested that Oxford's vessel was inadequate, calling it "a bad boat". [13] Finally, poor steering had allowed Cambridge to pass them "like a shot". [14]

Given the nature of the defeat, Oxford sent out a challenge in October 1849 to Cambridge for a re-row. For the first and only time in the history of the Boat Race, a second race was held in the same calendar year, this time in December. [15] The race was won by Oxford, [16] after Cambridge were disqualified. [1] [17]

Related Research Articles

The 4th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 15 April 1840. It was the third of the University Boat Races to be held on the Thames, between Westminster Bridge and Putney Bridge. Oxford University Boat Club was formed to assist in the selection of the Oxford crew. Nevertheless, Cambridge won the race by three-quarters of a length to lead the overall record at 3–1.

The 33rd Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 8 April 1876. Six of the Oxford crew had Boat Race experience while Cambridge's crew contained three Blues. Umpired by Joseph William Chitty, Cambridge won the race "easily" in a time of 20 minutes 20 seconds, following confusion as to the positioning of the finish. The victory took the overall record to 17–16 in Oxford's favour.

The 7th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 17 March 1845. The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. It was the first time the event was contested along The Championship Course, from Putney to Mortlake. The race was won by Cambridge who beat Oxford by a distance of ten lengths.

The 10th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 15 December 1849. Typically held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The race ended with Oxford declared winners after Cambridge were disqualified. It is the only time the Boat Race has been held twice in a calendar year, and is also the only time the event has been decided as a result of a disqualification.

The 11th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 3 April 1852. Typically held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Former Cambridge cox Thomas Selby Egan coached Oxford, the first time that either crew had been trained by a member of the opposing university. The race was won by Oxford, their first Boat Race victory at Easter, who triumphed over Cambridge by nine lengths.

The 12th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 8 April 1854. Typically held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The race was won by Oxford who triumphed over Cambridge by seven lengths.

The 14th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 4 April 1857. Held annually, The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Oxford rowed in a keel-less carvel-built boat, the first time in the history of the race that such a construction method was used for one of the vessels. Umpired by Joseph William Chitty, the race was won by Oxford who triumphed over Cambridge by 11 lengths.

The 15th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 27 March 1858. Typically held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The 1858 race, disrupted by poor rowing and a collision with a barge, was won by Cambridge, who defeated Oxford by ​7 12 lengths in a time of 21 minutes 23 seconds.

The 17th Boat Race took place on 31 March 1860. Held annually, the Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. It was the first time in the history of the event that the race had to be restarted as a result of an obstruction. Cambridge won the event by one length, in the slowest time ever.

The 18th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 16 March 1861. Held annually, The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The 1861 event, which featured the first ever non-British competitor, suffered numerous interruptions from river traffic. Oxford won by 16 lengths.

The 19th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 12 April 1862. Oxford won by 10 lengths in a time of 24 minutes and 34 seconds, taking the overall record to 10–9 in Cambridge's favour.

The 21st Boat Race, an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames, took place on 14 March 1864. Umpired by Joseph William Chitty, Oxford won by nine lengths in a time of 21 minutes 4 seconds, the fastest winning time since the event was held on The Championship Course in 1845. The race, whose start was moved in order to avoid interruptions from river traffic, was witnessed by the Prince of Wales.

The 22nd Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 8 April 1865. Oxford won by four lengths in a time of 21 minutes 24 seconds. The race, described as "one of the most sensational races in this history" thus far, was umpired by Joseph William Chitty. It was the first time that a crew had won the Boat Race having been behind at Hammersmith Bridge.

The 23rd Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 24 March 1866. The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Oxford won by three lengths in a time of 25 minutes and 35 seconds, one of the slowest times in the history of the event.

The 25th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 4 April 1868. Oxford won by six lengths in a time of 20 minutes and 56 seconds, taking the overall record to 15–10 in their favour. Oxford cox Charles Tottenham became the first person in the history of the event to win five Boat Races, and Cambridge saw their first non-British rower compete.

The 26th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 17 March 1869. Oxford won by three lengths in a time of 20 minutes and 4 seconds. It was their ninth consecutive victory and was, at that point, the fastest time ever recorded in the event.

The 47th Boat Race took place in 1890. Held annually, it is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. The race, umpired by former Oxford rower Frank Willan) was won by Oxford. They passed the finishing post one length ahead of Cambridge in a time of 22 minutes 3 seconds, and took their overall lead in the event to 24–22.

The 36th Boat Race took place on 5 April 1879. The Boat Race is an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. Each crew contained four Blues. In a race umpired by former Oxford rower Joseph William Chitty, Cambridge led all the way, and won by a margin of three lengths in a time of 21 minutes 18 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 18–17 in Oxford's favour.

The 82nd Boat Race took place on 12 April 1930. Held annually, the Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. In a race umpired by former Oxford rower Charles Burnell, Cambridge won by two lengths in a time of 19 minutes 9 seconds. Their seventh consecutive victory, it took the overall record to 41–40 in their favour, the first time for 68 years that they held the lead in the event.

The 103rd Boat Race took place on 30 March 1957. Held annually, the Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. The race was umpired by former Oxford rower Gerald Ellison. Despite Oxford being favourites and with the heaviest crew in the history of the event, Cambridge won by two lengths in a time of 19 minutes 1 second. The victory took the overall record to 57–45 in their favour.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer . 6 April 2003. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  3. Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  4. "The Course". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  5. MacMichael, pp. 14950
  6. Burnell p. 49
  7. 1 2 3 4 MacMichael, p. 150
  8. MacMichael, p. 151
  9. Burnell, pp. 5051
  10. MacMichael, p. 152
  11. MacMichael, pp. 15152
  12. MacMichael, pp. 15153
  13. MacMichael, p. 154
  14. MacMichael, pp. 15354
  15. MacMichael, p. 155
  16. MacMichael, p. 164
  17. "Early races". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.

Bibliography