The Boat Race 1869

Last updated

26th Boat Race
Date17 March 1869 (1869-03-17)
WinnerOxford
Margin of victory3 lengths
Winning time20 minutes 4 seconds
Overall record
(CambridgeOxford)
10–16
Umpire Joseph William Chitty
(Oxford)

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.

Contents

Background

Joseph William Chitty was the umpire. SirJosephWilliamChitty.jpg
Joseph William Chitty was the umpire.

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 by six lengths in the previous year's race and led overall with fifteen wins to Cambridge's ten. [4]

Having lost the last eight Boat Races, the Cambridge University Boat Club president William Anderson wrote to G. Morrison of Balliol College, Oxford, inviting him to coach the trials eights and the University eight. [5] Morrison had rowed in the 1859, 1860 and 1861 races and had also acted as a non-rowing president for the 1862 race. [6] The decision to engage a member of the opposing university was greeted with consternation and considered by many Cantabrigians as "a disgrace to the Club". [5] Indeed, five Old Blues refused to row, only William MacMIchael agreed to row again. [7] After the usual difficulty to agree arrangements, Cambridge eventually sent the traditional challenge and the date of the race was set for 17 March 1869. [8] Cambridge arrived at Putney a fortnight beforehand and made several practice rows in variable conditions, the worst of which included heavy snow, three days prior to the race. [9]

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, while the starter was Edward Searle. [10]

Crews

The Oxford crewed weighed an average of 12  st 0.25  lb (76.1 kg), 2.125 pounds (1.0 kg) more than their opponents. [11] The Cambridge crew contained three returning Blues, William MacMichael, William Anderson (for his third Boat Race) and John Still (his fourth), while Oxford saw the return of five rowers, including their boat club president J. C. Tinné for his third appearance and Frank Willan in his fourth Boat Race. [11]

Frank Willan made his fourth appearance for Oxford in the Boat Race. Frank Willan, Oxford.png
Frank Willan made his fourth appearance for Oxford in the Boat Race.
SeatCambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg
Oxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg
NameCollegeWeightNameCollegeWeight
Bow J. A. Rushton Emmanuel 11 st 5 lbS. H. Woodhouse University 10 st 13.5 lb
2J. H. Ridley Jesus 11 st 10.5 lbR. Tahourdin St John's 11 st 11 lb
3 J. W. Dale St John's 11 st 12 lb T. S. Baker Queen's 12 st 8 lb
4F. J. Young Christ's 12 st 4 lb F. Willan Exeter 12 st 2.5 lb
5W. F. MacMichael Downing 12 st 4 lbJ. C. Tinné (P) University 12 st 10.5 lb
6W. H. Anderson (P) 1st Trinity 11 st 4 lbA. C. Yarborough Lincoln 11 st 11 lb
7J. Still Gonville and Caius 12 st 1 lbW. D. Benson Balliol 11 st 7 lb
Stroke J. H. D. Goldie St John's 12 st 1 lbS. D. Darbishire Balliol 11 st 8.5 lb
Cox H. E. Gordon 1st Trinity 7 st 8 lbD. A Neilson St John's 7 st 10.5 lb
Source: [12]
(P) boat club president [13]

Race

The Championship Course, along which the race is conducted University Boat Race Thames map.svg
The Championship Course, along which the race is conducted

According to The Field , "the weather was not the most agreeable for a boat-race ... a raw wind ... leaden-coloured clouds overhanging the river". [14] Oxford, who were strong pre-race favourites, [7] won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station, handing the Surrey station to Cambridge. [11] Although the Light Blues made the faster start, Oxford soon pulled alongside them and by the London Rowing Club boathouse, held a lead of around 10 feet (3 m). Cambridge closed the gap but Oxford pulled away again. The lead was exchanged once again and Oxford took the lead at Craven Cottage. Despite erratic steering from Oxford's cox Darbishire, Oxford held the advantage until the crews shot Hammersmith Bridge, at which point the Light Blues held the lead by one third of a length. [15]

Still in the lead by The Doves pub, Cambridge steered too close to the bank and allowed Oxford to close the gap and passed Chiswick Eyot in the lead, with a half-length advantage by Chiswick Church. The Dark Blues passed under Barnes Bridge with a two-length lead and completed the course, passing the Ship Tavern three lengths clear in a time of 20 minutes 4 seconds. [16] It was their ninth consecutive victory and took the overall record to 1610 in their favour. The winning time was the fastest ever, beating the previous record set in 1868 by 52 seconds, although some doubt was cast over the positioning of the finish which was believed to have made the course approximately 100 yards (91 m) shorter. The record would stand until the 1873 race. [4] [17]

Related Research Articles

<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 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 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 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.

<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+12 lengths in a time of 22 minutes 4 seconds, their first victory since the 1860 race.

The 28th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on the 1 April 1871. The race, umpired by Joseph William Chitty, was won by Cambridge by one length in a time of 23 minutes 10 seconds for their second consecutive victory.

The 31st Boat Race took place on the 28 March 1874. The Boat Race is an annual 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 Joseph William Chitty, Cambridge won by three and a half lengths in their fifth consecutive victory.

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 38th 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 8 April 1881. In a race umpired by Robert Lewis-Lloyd, Oxford won by a margin of three lengths in a time of 21 minutes 51 seconds taking the overall record to 20–17 in their favour.

The 46th Boat Race took place on 30 March 1889. The Boat Race is an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. For the first time in the history of the event, all eight rowers in the Cambridge crew had rowed the previous year. Cambridge won by three lengths in a time of 20 minutes 14 seconds, their fourth consecutive victory which took the overall record in the event to 23–22 in Oxford's favour.

The 48th Boat Race took place on 21 March 1891. The Boat Race is an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. Oxford went into the race leading 24–22 in the event overall. In total, eight rowers who were participating had previous Boat Race experience. Umpired by former Oxford rower Frank Willan, pre-race favourites Oxford won by half-a-length in a time of 21 minutes 48 seconds. It was Oxford's narrowest winning margin since the 1867 race.

The 51st Boat Race took place on 17 March 1894. The Boat Race is an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. Oxford went into the race leading by 27–22 in the event, and of the eighteen participants, half had previous Boat Race experience. Umpired by former rower Frank Willan, Oxford won the race by 3+12 lengths in a time of 21 minutes 39 seconds, for their fifth consecutive victory in the event. It was the largest margin of victory since the 1883 race.

The 61st Boat Race took place on 26 March 1904. 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. Neither boat club president was able to row through injury. In a race umpired by former rower Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won by 4+12 lengths in a time of 21 minutes 37 seconds. Their third victory in a row, it took the overall record in the event to 33–27 in Oxford's favour.

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 1 September 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 3 June 2014.
  3. "The Course". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 MacMichael, p. 351
  6. Burnell, p. 100
  7. 1 2 Drinkwater, p. 62
  8. MacMichael, p. 354
  9. MacMichael, pp. 354355
  10. Burnell, pp. 49, 97
  11. 1 2 3 Burnell, p. 59
  12. MacMichael, p. 356
  13. Burnell, pp. 5051
  14. MacMichael, p. 355
  15. MacMichael, pp. 356357
  16. MacMichael, p. 358
  17. Drinkwater, p. 63

Bibliography