The Boat Race 1860

Last updated

17th Boat Race
Date31 March 1860 (1860-03-31)
WinnerCambridge
Margin of victory1 length
Winning time26 minutes 5 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)		10–7
Umpire Joseph William Chitty
(Oxford)
← 1859 1861 →

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.

Contents

Background

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

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues") [1] and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues"). [1] 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. [2] [3] Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having defeated Cambridge as they sank in the previous year's race. Cambridge led overall with nine wins to Oxford's seven. [4]

The challenge to race was sent by the president of the Cambridge University Boat Club to the president of the Oxford University Boat Club in the October term, with subsequent agreement to compete on 30 March 1860. However, this was soon deemed unacceptable: the Cambridge crew were required to take examinations in the days prior and the tide on that day was "inconvenient". As such, it was agreed to hold the race the following day, on 31 March. [5] Oxford were initially considered the favourites, but after Cambridge's practice rows, the odds evened. [6]

Cambridge's boat was built specifically for the race by Edward Searle of Simmons boat yard and was 57.5 feet (17.5 m) in length. The Oxford vessel was the same as that used in the previous year's race, a 54-foot (16 m) long boat built by Matthew Taylor of Newcastle. [7] The race was umpired by Joseph William Chitty who had rowed for Oxford twice in 1849 (in the March and December races) and the 1852 race. [8]

Crews

Frederick Halsey rowed for Oxford in the number three seat. T F Halsey 1906 postcard.jpg
Frederick Halsey rowed for Oxford in the number three seat.

Both crews were downselected from pairs of trials eights. [9] The Oxford crew weighed an average of 11  st 12.5  lb (75.3 kg), 2.75 pounds (1.2 kg) per rower more than their Light Blue opposition. [10] Each crew contained four members who had featured in the previous year's race: Chaytor and Morland represented Cambridge again, while Fairbairn and Hall competed in their third race. Meanwhile, Morrison, Baxter and Robarts represented Oxford for the second time, with Risley making his third appearance in the event. [10]

SeatCambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg 		Oxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg
NameCollegeWeightNameCollegeWeight
Bow S. Heathcote 1st Trinity 10 st 3 lbJ. N. MacQueen University 11 st 7 lb
2H. J. Chaytor Jesus 11 st 4 lbG. Norsworthy Magdalen 11 st 0 lb
3D. Ingles 1st Trinity 10 st 13 lb T. F. Halsey Christ Church 11 st 11 lb
4J. S. Blake Corpus Christi 12 st 9 lbJ. F. Young Corpus Christi 12 st 8 lb
5M. Coventry Trinity Hall 12 st 8 lbG. Morrison (P) Balliol 12 st 13 lb
6B. N. Cherry Clare Hall 12 st 1 lbH. F. Baxter Brasenose 11 st 7 lb
7A. H. Fairbairn 2nd Trinity 11 st 10 lbC. I. Strong University 11 st 2 lb
Stroke J. Hall (P) Magdalene 10 st 4 lbR. W. Risley Exeter 11 st 8 lb
Cox J. T. Morland Trinity 9 st 0 lbA. J. Robarts Christ Church 9 st 9 lb
Source: [10]
(P) – boat club president [11]

Race

For the first time in a University Race, there was a false start, for no sooner was the word given than an ugly old wherry came creeping across the bows of the boats, and had not Mr Searle with the greatest presence of mind instantly by voice and gesture recalled them, most unpleasant consequences might have been the result.

MacMichael [7]

The crowd lining the banks of the Thames was "immense", while the weather was "drizzly and windy". [6] Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station handing the Surrey side of the river to Cambridge. Immediately after the starter, Edward Searle, had commanded the boats to commence, a wherry interrupted proceedings, blocking the boats' passage and forcing Searle to declare a false start. It was the first time in Boat Race history that the event was required to be restarted. [7]

Neither crew made a good start, but Cambridge took an early lead. Oxford had recovered to draw level by the "Star and Garter" pub and led by half a length by Craven Cottage. [12] The Dark Blues were nearly clear by the "Crab Tree" pub and their cox Robarts steered across in an attempt to take clear water. Cambridge's cox Morland called for a push to defend their course causing the crews to clash oars. [13] They passed through the central pier of Hammersmith Bridge, with Cambridge holding a 3-foot (0.9 m) lead, which they extended to half a length around Chiswick Reach. By Barnes Bridge the Light Blues held a length-and-a-half lead. They passed the "Ship Tavern" at Mortlake, winning by a length in a time of 26 minutes 5 seconds. [14] As of 2019, this remains the slowest winning time in the history of the event. [4]

Related Research Articles

The 3rd Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 3 April 1839. It was the second of the University Boat Races to be held on the River Thames, this time between Westminster and Putney. Cambridge had competed against Leander Club in 1837 and 1838; it had been three years since Oxford and Cambridge raced against one another. Representatives of both universities and an independent referee oversaw the proceedings. Cambridge won the race by 35 lengths, as of 2023 the largest winning margin in the history of the event.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Race 1841</span> Oxford versus Cambridge rowing race

The 5th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 14 April 1841. It was the fourth of the University Boat Races, a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, to be contested in London. The race was held between Westminster Bridge and Putney Bridge and was won by Cambridge, whose crew featured two pairs of brothers rowing, who defeated Oxford by a distance of 22 lengths in a time of 32 minutes and 30 seconds. The victory took the overall record in the event to 4–1 in Cambridge'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 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". 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.

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 13th Boat Race took place on the River Thames on 15 March 1856. Typically held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The race, the second to be held on the ebb tide, was won by Cambridge who beat Oxford by half a length.

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+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 21 minutes 23 seconds.

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 20th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 28 March 1863. Oxford won by 15 lengths in a time of 23 minutes 6 seconds. It took the overall record to ten wins each, the first time since the 1836 race that the scores were level. The race was the third to be held on the ebb tide, along the Championship Course in reverse, from Mortlake to Putney. It was the first time since the race was held in the fashion since the 1856 race.

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 24th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 13 April 1867. In a race where the lead was exchanged several times, Oxford won by half a length in a time of 22 minutes and 39 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 14–10 in Oxford's favour.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Race 1870</span> Oxford versus Cambridge rowing race

The 27th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on the 6 April 1870. Cambridge won by 1+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 22 minutes 4 seconds, their first victory since the 1860 race.

The 55th Boat Race took place on 24 March 1898. 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. Oxford, the reigning champions and leading overall, went into the race with a marginally heavier crew than Cambridge. They won "easily" as Cambridge's boat became waterlogged in strong winds and inclement conditions. It was their ninth consecutive victory and took them to an overall lead of 32–22 in the event. The winning time of 22 minutes 15 seconds was the slowest since the 1878 race.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer . 6 April 2003. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  2. ↑ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Course". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  5. ↑ MacMichael, p. 270
  6. 1 2 MacMichael, p. 273
  7. 1 2 3 MacMichael, p. 274
  8. ↑ Burnell, pp. 49, 97
  9. ↑ MacMichael, pp. 271–272
  10. 1 2 3 MacMichael, p. 277
  11. ↑ Burnell, pp. 50–51
  12. ↑ MacMichael, pp. 274–275
  13. ↑ MacMichael, p. 275
  14. ↑ MacMichael, pp. 275–276

Bibliography

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