The Boat Race 1902

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59th Boat Race
Date22 March 1902 (1902-03-22)
WinnerCambridge
Margin of victory5 lengths
Winning time19 minutes 9 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)		25–33
Umpire Frank Willan
(Oxford)
← 1901 1903 →

The 59th Boat Race took place on 22 March 1902. 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. Although Oxford used swivel rowlocks for the first time in the history of the race, Cambridge won by five lengths in a time of 19 minutes 9 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 33–25 in Oxford's favour.

Contents

Background

A modern swivel rowlock. Oxford were the first crew to use the recently patented technology in the Boat Race in 1902. Rowing Sport Oarlock.jpg
A modern swivel rowlock. Oxford were the first crew to use the recently patented technology in the Boat Race in 1902.

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] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide. [4] Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1901 race by two-fifths of a length, and led overall with 33 victories to Cambridge's 24 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877). [5] [6]

Oxford's coaches were G. C. Bourne who had rowed for Oxford in the 1882 and 1883 races, William Fletcher, who rowed for Oxford in the 1890, 1891, 1892 and 1893 races and Harcourt Gilbey Gold (Dark Blue president for the 1900 race and four-time Blue). Cambridge were coached by John Ernest Payne (two-time Blue in 1899 and 1900). [7] The umpire for the race for the thirteenth year in a row was Frank Willan who won the event four consecutive times, rowing for Oxford in the 1866, 1867, 1868 and 1869 races. [8] It was his last time in charge of the race as he would be replaced by Frederick I. Pitman the following year. [9]

With a hard frost impeding Cambridge's practice in Ely, the crew relocated, at the invitation of Sir John Edwards-Moss, to Henley-on-Thames where parts of the river were clear of ice. [10] Oxford disregarded Felix Warre's latest boat in favour of the previous year's vessel, however with the inclusion of the recently patented "swivel rowlock". [11] According to Oxford rower and author George Drinkwater (who rowed at bow for the Dark Blues in this race), [12] the rowlocks "were not altogether a success" and stated that while Cambridge could "row a faster stroke", the Dark Blues "were very ponderous". [10]

Crews

The Oxford crew weighed an average of 12  st 6.5  lb (79.0 kg), 4.5 pounds (2.04 kg) per rower more than their opponents. [12] The Cambridge crew contained four rowers with Boat Race experience, including Wilfrid Hubert Chapman who had last rowed in the 1899 race. Seven of the nine members of the Cambridge crew matriculated at Trinity College. Oxford saw five former Blues return, including cox Gilchrist Maclagan who was steering in his fourth consecutive race. [12] The Dark Blues also featured a pair of brothers, John George and Devereux Milburn, [13] [14] who were also the race's only non-British participants, hailing from the United States having attended The Hill School in Pennsylvania before studying at Harvard University. [15]

SeatOxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg 		Cambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg
NameCollegeWeightNameCollegeWeight
Bow G. C. Drinkwater Wadham 11 st 7 lbW. H. Chapman 3rd Trinity 11 st 2 lb
2 D. Milburn Lincoln 12 st 4.5 lbT. Drysdale Jesus 12 st 2 lb
3J. Younger New College 12 st 12.5 lbP. H. Thomas 3rd Trinity 12 st 5 lb
4H. J. Hale (P) Balliol 13 st 1 lb C. W. H. Taylor (P) 3rd Trinity 12 st 8 lb
5J. G. Milburn Lincoln 13 st 3.5 lbF. J. Escombe Trinity Hall 12 st 8 lb
6A. de L. Long New College 13 st 0.25 lbH. B. Grylls 1st Trinity 12 st 10 lb
7H. W. Adams University 12 st 1.5 lbJ. Edwards-Moss 3rd Trinity 12 st 4 lb
Stroke F. O. J. Huntley University 11 st 7.5 lb R. H. Nelson 3rd Trinity 11 st 5 lb
Cox G. S. Maclagan Magdalen 8 st 5 lbC. H. S. Wasbrough Trinity Hall 8 st 1 lb
Source: [16]
(P) – boat club president [17]

Race

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

Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Oxford. [12] At the time of the race it was raining; umpire Willan started proceedings at 12:45 p.m. and Cambridge led from the first stroke. Within two minutes they were clear of Oxford, and, out-rating them marginally for the duration of the race, they pulled away with every stroke. [18] Cambridge passed the finishing post with a five-length lead, in a time of 19 minutes 9 seconds. [12] It was the Light Blues third win in four years and the victory took the overall record in the event to 33–25 in Oxford's favour. [6]

Related Research Articles

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 Boat Race 1870

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.

The 29th Boat Race took place on the 27 March 1872. 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 Robert Lewis-Lloyd, Cambridge won by two lengths in a time of 21 minutes 15 seconds taking the overall record to 16–13 in Oxford's favour.

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 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 52nd Boat Race took place on 30 March 1895. The Boat Race is an annual side-by-side rowing race along the River Thames between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The 1895 race was umpired by former Oxford rower Frank Willan with one of the Oxford coaches, R. C. Lehmann being a former Cambridge alumnus. Although Cambridge made the quicker start, Oxford recovered, had the lead by Hammersmith Bridge, and won by ​2 1⁄4 lengths in a time of 20 minutes 50 seconds. It was their sixth victory in a row and took the overall record in the event to 29–22 in Oxford's favour.

The 53rd Boat Race took place on 28 March 1896. 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 rower Frank Willan, Oxford won by two-fifths of a length in a time of 20 minutes 1 second, taking the overall record in the event to 30–22 in their favour. It was their seventh consecutive victory and the narrowest winning margin since 1877.

The 54th Boat Race took place on 3 April 1897. 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 as reigning champions, having won the previous year's race. The crews were almost evenly matched weight-wise, Oxford marginally the heavier, whose crew consisted almost entirely of veterans of the event. In a race umpired by former rower Frank Willan, Oxford won by ​2 1⁄2 lengths in a time of 19 minutes 12 seconds, the victory taking the overall record to 31–22 in their favour. It was Oxford's eighth consecutive victory and the third fastest winning time in the history of the event.

The 55th Boat Race took place on 25 March 1899. 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. Cambridge won, their first success in a decade, by ​3 1⁄4 lengths in a time of 21 minutes 4 seconds. The victory took the overall record in the event to 32–23 in Oxford's favour.

The 57th Boat Race took place on 31 March 1900. 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. Cambridge won by twenty lengths in a record-equalling time of 18 minutes 45 seconds, taking the overall record in the event to 32–24 in Oxford's favour.

The 58th Boat Race took place on 30 March 1901. 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. Cambridge had won the previous year's race by twenty lengths. This year's race, umpired by former rower Frank Willan, was won by Oxford by two-fifths of a length in a time of 22 minutes 31 seconds. Oxford's crew featured five former Blues while Cambridge just one. It was the Dark Blues' first win three years and the slowest winning time since 1877. The victory took the overall record in the event to 33–24 in favour of Oxford.

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.

The 64th Boat Race took place on 16 March 1907. 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. Cambridge were reigning champions, having won the previous year's race, and more than half their crew had already participated in the event. In a race umpired by Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won by ​4 1⁄2 lengths in a time of 20 minutes 26 seconds. It was their second consecutive victory and their fifth win in six races, taking the overall record in the event to 34–29 in Oxford's favour.

The 73rd Boat Race took place on 30 March 1921. 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. Cambridge, with the heavier crew, went into the race as reigning champions, having won the previous year's race. In total, nine of the participants in this year's race had previous Boat Race experience, and five had won a silver medal in the 1920 Summer Olympics. In this year's race, umpired by former rower Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won by one length in a time of 19 minutes 45 seconds. It was Cambridge's third consecutive win, the fastest winning time since 1913 and the narrowest margin of victory since 1913. The result took the overall record to 39–33 in Oxford's favour.

The Boat Race 1924

The 76th Boat Race took place on 5 April 1924. 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 were reigning champions, having won the previous year's race, and their crew was significantly heavier than their opponents for this year's race. Umpired by former rower Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won by ​4 1⁄2 lengths in a time of 18 minutes 41 seconds, the fastest time since 1911. The victory took the overall record in the event to 40–35 in Oxford's favour.

The 80th Boat Race took place on 28 March 1928. 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 ten lengths, the largest margin of victory since 1900, in a time of 20 minutes 25 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 40–39 in Oxford's favour.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer . 6 April 2003. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  2. ↑ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Course". The Boat Race Company Limited. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Men – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Burnell, pp. 110–111
  8. ↑ Burnell, pp. 49, 59
  9. ↑ Drinkwater, p. 113
  10. 1 2 Drinkwater, p. 111
  11. ↑ "A Swivel Rowlock with Fixed Thole Pin". Espacenet . Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Burnell, p. 67
  13. ↑ Burnell, p. 42
  14. ↑ "Rival English crews to open rowing season". The Cornell Daily Sun . XLI (130). Cornell University. 29 March 1921. p. 5. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  15. ↑ Burnell, p. 39
  16. ↑ Dodd, p. 315
  17. ↑ Burnell, pp. 50–51
  18. ↑ Drinkwater, p. 112

Bibliography

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