73rd Boat Race | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date | 30 March 1921 | ||
Winner | Cambridge | ||
Margin of victory | 1 length | ||
Winning time | 19 minutes 45 seconds | ||
Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) | 33–39 | ||
Umpire | Frederick I. Pitman (Cambridge) | ||
|
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 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] Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1920 race by four lengths; Oxford led overall with 39 victories to Cambridge's 32 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877). [5] [6]
Oxford were coached by H. R. Baker (who rowed for the Dark Blues in the 1908 and 1909 races), G. C. Bourne who had rowed for the university in the 1882 and 1883 races, C. D. Burnell (a Blue from 1895 to 1898) and R. P. P. Rowe who had rowed four times between 1889 and 1892. Cambridge's coaches were John Houghton Gibbon, who had rowed for the Light Blues in the 1899 and 1900 races, Sidney Swann (who had rowed in the four races from 1911 to 1914) and G. E. Tower (who had rowed in 1913 and 1914). [7] For the thirteenth year the umpire was old Etonian Frederick I. Pitman who rowed for Cambridge in the 1884, 1885 and 1886 races. [8]
The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 12 st 11.75 lb (81.3 kg), 4.25 pounds (1.9 kg) per rower more than their opponents. Oxford's crew contained five participants with Boat Race experience, while Cambridge saw four of the 1920 crew return. [9] Five of the participants were silver medallists in the men's eight at the 1920 Summer Olympics: Oxford's Sebastian Earl, Walter James, Richard Lucas and Guy Oliver Nickalls, and Cambridge's John Campbell. [10] Two rowers were registered as non-British, Oxford's Francis Bacon Lothrop was American while Cambridge's Campbell hailed from Australia. [11]
Seat | Oxford | Cambridge | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | College | Weight | Name | College | Weight | |
Bow | M. H. Ellis | Keble | 10 st 6 lb | H. O. C. Boret | 3rd Trinity | 12 st 7 lb |
2 | P. C. Mallam | Queen's | 11 st 6.75 lb | A. G. W. Penney | Pembroke | 13 st 4 lb |
3 | S. Earl | Magdalen | 12 st 9 lb | A. B. Ritchie | Trinity Hall | 13 st 7 lb |
4 | F. B. Lothrop | Trinity | 13 st 5 lb | A. D. B. Pearson | 1st Trinity | 13 st 7 lb |
5 | W. E. C. James (P) | Magdalen | 13 st 6 lb | H. B. Playford | Jesus | 13 st 10 lb |
6 | R. S. C. Lucas | Magdalen | 13 st 7.5 lb | J. A. Campbell | Jesus | 13 st 2 lb |
7 | G. O. Nickalls | Magdalen | 12 st 6 lb | Hon. J. W. H. Fremantle | 3rd Trinity | 12 st 0 lb |
Stroke | D. T. Raikes | Merton | 13 st 4 lb | P. H. G. H.-S. Hartley (P) | Lady Margaret Boat Club | 11 st 1 lb |
Cox | W. H. Porritt | Magdalen | 8 st 10 lb | L. E. Stephens | Trinity Hall | 8 st 11 lb |
Source: [12] (P) – boat club president [13] |
Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge. [9] Pitman, the umpire, started the race on a "moderate tide" in good conditions at 5:00 p.m. [14] Cambridge made the quicker start, outrating Oxford and holding a half-length lead by the time the crews reached Craven Steps. Gaining further, the Light Blues were a quarter of a length clear of the Dark Blues by the Mile Post. At this point, the Cambridge boat attempted to cross into the Surrey side of the river, but Oxford responded and surged to become level by the time the crews passed below Hammersmith Bridge. [15]
As the course of the river now favoured Oxford, they pulled away and, according to author and former Dark Blue rower George Drinkwater, after a "ding-dong struggle" held a half-length lead by Barnes Bridge. [15] Oxford were forced to allow the Light Blue space; the Cambridge stroke P. H. G. H-S. Hartley took advantage and spurted to push the Dark Blues off their line. [15] The bend in the river now favouring Cambridge, they levelled proceedings and pushed on to win by one length in a time of 19 minutes 45 seconds. [16] It was their third consecutive victory, the fastest winning time since the 1911 race and the narrowest winning margin since the 1913 race. It took the overall record in the event to 39–33 in Oxford's favour. [5]
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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 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.
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 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 1⁄2 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.
The 62nd Boat Race took place on 1 April 1905. 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 went into the race as reigning champions, having won the previous year's race. In this year's race, umpired by former rower Frederick I. Pitman, Oxford won by three lengths in a time of 20 minutes 35 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 34–27 in their 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 65th Boat Race took place on 4 April 1908. 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. In a race umpired by Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won by 2 1⁄2 lengths in a time of 19 minutes 20 seconds. It was their third consecutive victory and their sixth win in seven races, taking the overall record in the event to 34–30 in Oxford's favour.
The 67th Boat Race took place on 23 March 1910. 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. In a race umpired by Frederick I. Pitman, Oxford won by 3 1⁄2 lengths in a time of 20 minutes 14 seconds, taking their overall lead in the competition to 36–30.
The 68th Boat Race took place on 1 April 1911. 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. Umpired by former Cambridge rower Frederick I. Pitman, Oxford won by 2 3⁄4 lengths in a time of 18 minutes 29 seconds, taking their overall lead in the competition to 37–30.
The 70th Boat Race took place on 13 March 1913. 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. The two crews contained a total of five medallists from the 1912 Summer Olympics. Umpired by former Cambridge rower Frederick I. Pitman, Oxford won this year's race by three-quarters of a length in a time of 20 minutes 53 seconds. The victory took the overall record in the event to 39–30 in their favour.
The 71st Boat Race took place on 28 March 1914. 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. In this year's race, umpired by former rower Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won by 4 1⁄2 lengths in a time of 20 minutes 23 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 39–31 in Oxford's favour. It would be the last race for six years following the outbreak of the First World War.
The 74th Boat Race took place on 1 April 1922. 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 went into the race as reigning champions, having won the previous year's race, and had the significantly heavier crew. Four of the Oxford crew and three of the Cambridge crew had previous Boat Race experience. In this year's race, umpired by former rower Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won by 4 1⁄2 lengths in a time of 19 minutes 27 seconds. It was Cambridge's fourth consecutive victory, the largest winning margin since 1914 and the fastest winning time since 1911.
The 75th Boat Race took place on 24 March 1923. 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's crew was marginally heavier than Oxford's, the latter included an Olympic silver medallist. Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the previous year's race. In this year's race, umpired by former rower Frederick I. Pitman, Oxford won by three-quarters of a length in a time of 20 minutes 54 seconds, securing their first win in five years. The victory took the overall record in the event to 40–34 in their favour.
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 77th Boat Race took place on 28 March 1925. 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. Umpired by former rower Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won in a time of 21 minutes 50 seconds after Oxford became waterlogged and were unable to finish the race. The victory took the overall record in the event to 40–36 in Oxford's favour.
The 78th Boat Race took place on 27 March 1926. 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. Umpired by former rower Frederick I. Pitman, Cambridge won by five lengths in a time of 19 minutes 29 seconds in the largest winning margin since 1912. It was Cambridge's third consecutive victory and took the overall record in the event to 40–37 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.
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