The Boat Race 1873

Last updated

30th Boat Race
Date29 March 1873 (1873-03-29)
WinnerCambridge
Margin of victory3 lengths
Winning time19 minutes 35 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)		14–16
Umpire Joseph William Chitty
(Oxford)
← 1872 1874 →

The 30th Boat Race took place on the 29 March 1873. 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 lengths in a time of 19 minutes and 35 seconds, the fastest time in the history of the event. It was the first time that rowers raced on sliding seats.

Contents

Background

Joseph William Chitty was the umpire for the 1873 Boat Race. SirJosephWilliamChitty.jpg
Joseph William Chitty was the umpire for the 1873 Boat Race.

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] Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having defeated Oxford by two lengths in the previous year's race, while Oxford led overall with sixteen wins to Cambridge's thirteen. [4]

Although the use of sliding seats had been considered the previous year, the then-Cambridge boat club president John Goldie disallowed the Light Blue boat manufacturer Harry Clasper from fitting them. [5] However, for the 1873 race, both boats were, for the first time, fitted with the innovation. [6]

Cambridge were coached by John Graham Chambers (who rowed for Cambridge in the 1862 and 1863 races, and was non-rowing boat club president for the 1865 race). [7] Oxford's coach was Robert Lesley, the non-rowing president of Oxford University Boat Club (who had rowed in the 1871 and 1872 races). [8]

Joseph William Chitty (who had rowed for Oxford twice in 1849 (in the March and December races) and the 1852 race) returned as umpire for the race (with Robert Lewis-Lloyd having officiated the previous year) [5] while the starter was Edward Searle. [9]

Crews

The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 11  st 11  lb (74.7 kg), 5.25 pounds (2.4 kg) more than their opponents. [10] Oxford saw four former Blues return from the 1872 crew, while Cambridge's crew included three rowers who had participated the previous year, in James Brooks Close, Charles Stokes Read and Constantine William Benson. [6]

SeatCambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg 		Oxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg
NameCollegeWeightNameCollegeWeight
Bow J. B. Close 1st Trinity 11 st 3 lb C. C. Knollys Magdalen 10 st 12.5 lb
2E. Hoskyns Jesus 11 st 2 lbJ. B. Little Christ Church 10 st 13 lb
3J. E. Peabody 1st Trinity 11 st 7 lb M. G. Farrer Brasenose 12 st 4 lb
4W. C. Lecky-Browne Jesus 12 st 1.5 lbA. W. Nicholson Magdalen 12 st 9 lb
5T. S. Turnbull Trinity Hall 12 st 12.5 lbR. S. Mitchison Pembroke 12 st 7.5 lb
6C. S. Read (P) 1st Trinity 12 st 13 lbW. E. Sherwood Christ Church 11 st 1 lb
7C. W. Benson 3rd Trinity 11 st 5 lbJ. A. Ormsby Lincoln 11 st 1.5 lb
Stroke H. E. Rhodes Jesus 11 st 1.5 lbF. T. Dowding St John's 11 st 0 lb
Cox C. H. Candy Gonville and Caius 7 st 5 lbG. E. Frewer St John's 7 st 6 lb
Source: [6]
(P) – boat club president (Robert Lesley was a non-rowing president for Oxford) [11]

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

Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge. [6] The race commenced at 2.32 p.m. Oxford's higher stroke rate enabled them to make "a good race of it", and remained in contention for the first mile-and-a-half to Hammersmith Bridge, but in doing so exhausted themselves. Cambridge eased off and won the race by three lengths. [12] The winning time was 19 minutes and 35 seconds, the fastest time in the history of The Boat Race and 29 seconds faster than the previous record set in the 1869 race. [4]

Related Research Articles

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

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.

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

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The 32nd Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 20 March 1875. The Cambridge crew contained four Blues to Oxford's two, the latter went into the race without a win since the 1869 race. In a race umpired by Joseph William Chitty, Oxford won by ten lengths in a time of 22 minutes 2 seconds, taking the overall record in the event to 17–15 in their favour. One of the Cambridge crew broke his slide during the race.

The 35th Boat Race took place on 13 April 1878. 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 total, ten former Blues took part in the contest. The race was umpired by former rower Joseph William Chitty and Oxford won by a margin of 10 lengths in a time of 22 minutes 15 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 18–16 in Oxford's favour.

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The 37th 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 22 March 1880 following a postponement two days earlier as a result of thick fog. It is the only time in the history of the event that the race has been rescheduled. Oxford won by a margin of 3+3⁄4 lengths in a time of 21 minutes 23 seconds.

The 45th Boat Race took place on 24 March 1888. 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 the race umpired by Robert Lewis-Lloyd for the final time, Cambridge won by seven lengths in a time of 20 minutes 48 seconds.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Race 1892</span> Oxford versus Cambridge rowing race

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The 60th Boat Race took place on 1 April 1903. 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 for the first time by former Cambridge rower Frederick I. Pitman, whose misfiring starter pistol caused confusion at the start, allowing Cambridge to gain an advantage. They went on to win by six lengths in a time of 19 minutes 33 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 33–26 in Oxford's favour.

The 63rd Boat Race took place on 7 April 1906. 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 went into the race as reigning champions, having won the previous year's race, and their crew was slightly heavier than their opponents. In a race umpired by Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won by 3+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 19 minutes 25 seconds, the fastest winning time for four years. The win took the overall record to 34–28 in Oxford's favour.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Race 1924</span> Oxford versus Cambridge rowing race

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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 4 December 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 4 December 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  5. 1 2 Drinkwater, p. 66
  6. 1 2 3 4 Burnell, p. 60
  7. ↑ Burnell, p. 104
  8. ↑ Burnell, pp. 110–111
  9. ↑ Burnell, pp. 49, 97
  10. ↑ Drinkwater, p. 67
  11. ↑ Burnell, pp. 50–51
  12. ↑ Drinkwater, pp. 66–67

Bibliography

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