The Boat Race 1959

Last updated

105th Boat Race
Date28 March 1959
WinnerOxford
Margin of victory6 lengths
Winning time18 minutes 52 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)		58–46
UmpireGeorge Douglas Clapperton
(Oxford)
← 1958 1960 →

The 105th Boat Race took place on 28 March 1959. 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 won by Oxford by six lengths in a time of 18 minutes 52 seconds, their first victory in five years. The victory took the overall record to 58–46 in Cambridge's favour.

Contents

During the buildup to the race, a number of the returning Oxford crew attempted to oust both coach Hugh "Jumbo" Edwards and Oxford University Boat Club president Ronnie Howard. Cambridge stated that they would only row against the president's crew and Oxford's college boat club captains voted in favour of Howard.

Background

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] First held in 1829, the race takes place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London. [2] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities; it is followed throughout the United Kingdom and as of 2014, broadcast worldwide. [3] [4] Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1958 race by 3+1⁄2 lengths, [5] and led overall with 58 victories to Oxford's 45 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877). [6] Cambridge had won the four previous races, [7] and had lost only three times since the Second World War. [5]

Cambridge were coached by Harry Almond (who rowed for Cambridge in the 1950 and 1951 races), James Crowden (who rowed twice for Cambridge, in the 1951 and 1952 races), Harold Rickett (who rowed in the 1930, 1931 and 1932 races) and J. J. Vernon (who rowed in the 1955 race). Oxford's coach was Olympic rower Hugh "Jumbo" Edwards who had spectacularly collapsed in the 1926 race, and returned to the Oxford Blue Boat for the 1930 race. [8] The race was umpired by George Douglas Clapperton who had coxed Oxford in the 1923 and 1924 races. [9] [10] He later umpired in the 1967 boat race. [9]

The 1958 Dark Blue boat was "built around" 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall Yale graduate Reed Rubin and that year's loss created friction, so much so that he and the other Oxford Blues suggested that Edwards should go to the United States to see the coaching methods that helped the successful Yale crew which contributed seven of the nine crew in the gold medal-winning men's eight at the 1956 Summer Olympics. [11] Rubin himself stood for Oxford University Boat Club presidency against Ronnie Howard (who had rowed for Isis the previous year). Although standing in opposition, Howard agreed with Rubin that more emphasis should be placed on technique than fitness training. Howard was elected, by a single vote, and took the responsibility of selecting both the coach and the crew. [12]

In late 1958, Rubin urged Howard to adopt the Yale training regime and to drop Edwards for a Yale coach, or even Rubin himself. Howard refused, and Rubin decided to prepare of crew of his own which would include all six of the returning Blues and new recruits such as American Olympic gold medallist Charlie Grimes. [12] He demanded of Howard that his "pirate" crew be allowed to train independently and challenged him to race for the right to represent Oxford in the Boat Race. [13] Howard refused, stating of the mutineers "if they maintain their point of view I shall do without them ... I have no sympathy for these people". [13] At a meeting of boat club captains to discuss the future of the Torpids, Howard was presented with a letter offering him their full support. [14] Cambridge University Boat Club president Mike Maltby, in an interview with student newspaper Varsity , supported Howard by stating that the Light Blues would not row against any crew that did not have the full support of the Oxford president. [15] Rubin stated that he would not row in Howard's boat under any circumstances – the mutiny was quashed. [15]

Crews

The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 12  st 13.75  lb (82.2 kg), 1 pound (0.5 kg) per rower more than their opponents. Oxford's crew included four of the former rebels, Douglas-Mann, Fage, Edwards and cox Julian Rowbotham. [15] Cambridge saw three rowers with Boat Race experience return to the crew: J. R. Giles, D. C. Christie and Maltby. Cox James Sulley also returned to steer the boat for a second year. [16] There were no non-British registered participants in the race. [17]

SeatOxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg 		Cambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg
NameCollegeWeightNameCollegeWeight
Bow S. C. H. Douglas-Mann St Edmund Hall 12 st 5 lbJ. R. Owen St John's 11 st 8 lb
2A. T. Lindsay Magdalen 12 st 8 lbJ. R. Giles Emmanuel 12 st 8 lb
3R. L. Howard (P) Worcester 13 st 10 lbT. C. Heywood-Lonsdale Trinity 13 st 6 lb
4D. C. Rutherford Magdalen 13 st 0 lbB. M. P. Thompson-McCausland Trinity 12 st 9 lb
5J. L. Fage St Edmund Hall 13 st 3 lbG. H. Brown Trinity Hall 13 st 9 lb
6D. C. R. Edwards Christ Church 13 st 2 lbJ. Beveridge Jesus 13 st 1 lb
7D. W. Shaw Keble 13 st 0 lbD. C. Christie Pembroke 14 st 2 lb
Stroke J. R. H. Lander Christ Church 12 st 4 lbM. B. Maltby (P) Pembroke 12 st 9 lb
Cox J. G. Rowbotham Hertford 9 st 1 lbJ. S. Sulley Selwyn 8 st 9 lb
Source: [18]
(P) – boat club president [19]

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. [16] Clapperton started the race at 3:15 p.m. in good conditions with a light breeze. [20] Although Cambridge started at a higher stroke rate, Oxford held a canvas-length lead after the first minute. Still outrating the Dark Blues, Cambridge steered towards opponents who held a half-length lead by Craven Steps. Rowbotham held his course, steering close to Beverley Brook, before taking a clear water advantage. Sulley dropped the Cambridge boat in behind Oxford, with a quarter of a length of open water between the two as they passed the Mile Post. The Dark Blues reduced their rating but still passed below Hammersmith Bridge with an eight-second advantage. Despite a spurt from Maltby, Oxford reached Chiswick Steps twelve seconds ahead, and by Barnes Bridge were five lengths up. [20] Oxford continued to draw away and won by six lengths in a time of 18 minutes 52 seconds. It was Oxford's largest margin of victory since the 1912 race, [21] and their fastest time since the 1911 race. [5]

According to the rowing correspondent of The Times , "everything went exactly according to the book, an occurrence so rare that a good many people doubted that it could happen." [20] A writer for The Illustrated London News stated that "the result was a great triumph for Group Captain H. R. A. Edwards, Oxford's sole coach, and for R. L. Howard, the Oxford President, who had to deal with the revolt — over rowing styles — in the Boat Club last autumn." [22]

Related Research Articles

The 81st Boat Race took place on 23 March 1929. 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 event featured three Olympic medallists and included the first Danish rower ever to participate in the Boat Race. In a race umpired by former Oxford rower Charles Burnell, Cambridge won by seven lengths in a time of 19 minutes 24 seconds, the fastest winning time since the 1924 race. The victory, their sixth in a row and their tenth in the previous eleven years, levelled the overall record for the first time since 1863, at 40 wins each.

The 113th Boat Race took place on 25 March 1967. Held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. The race was won by Oxford by three-and-a-quarter-lengths. Goldie won the reserve race while Cambridge won the Women's Boat Race.

The 112th Boat Race took place on 26 March 1966. Held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. The race was won by Oxford by 3+3⁄4 lengths. Isis won the reserve race while Cambridge won the Women's Boat Race.

The 111th Boat Race took place on 3 April 1965. Held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. The race was won by Oxford, who led from the start, by three-and-three-quarter-lengths, in the third fastest time in Boat Race history. Isis won the inaugural reserve race while Cambridge won the Women's Boat Race.

The 44th Boat Race took place on 26 March 1887. The Boat Race is an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. The race was umpired by Robert Lewis-Lloyd, and Cambridge won by two and a half lengths after one of the Oxford crew's oars snapped in half. The winning time for the race was 20 minutes 52 seconds, and Cambridge's victory took the overall record to 23–20 in Oxford's 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 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 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 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 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 79th Boat Race took place on 2 April 1927. 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's crew was marginally heavier than their opponents, and saw five participants return with Boat Race experience, compared to Cambridge's four. Umpired for the first time by former Oxford rower Charles Burnell, Cambridge won by three lengths in a time of 20 minutes 14 seconds. It was the first race in the history of the event to be broadcast live on BBC Radio. The victory took the overall record in the event to 40–38 in Oxford's favour. The inaugural Women's Boat Race was contested this year, with Oxford securing the victory.

The 82nd Boat Race took place on 12 April 1930. 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 two lengths in a time of 19 minutes 9 seconds. Their seventh consecutive victory, it took the overall record to 41–40 in their favour, the first time for 68 years that they held the lead in the event.

The 96th Boat Race took place on 1 April 1950. 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 Cambridge crew contained three Olympic silver medallists from the 1948 Summer Olympics; six of their crew rowed for Lady Margaret Boat Club. In a race umpired by the Olympic medallist and former Cantabrigian rower Kenneth Payne, Cambridge won by 3+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 20 minutes 15 seconds, taking the overall record in the event to 52–43 in their favour.

The 98th Boat Race took place on 29 March 1952. 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 Cambridge rower Kenneth Payne, Oxford won by a canvas in a time of 20 minutes 23 seconds. At no point during the contest was there clear water between the boats. The race, described as "one of the closest fought of all time", was their second win in seven years and took the overall record in the event to 53–44 in Cambridge's favour.

The 101st Boat Race took place on 26 March 1955. 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, in which the Cambridge crew was substantially heavier than their opponents and where there were more non-British participants than ever before, was umpired by former Oxford rower Gerald Ellison. Cambridge won by sixteen lengths, the second largest margin of victory in the history of the Boat Race, in a time of 19 minutes 10 seconds. It was their second win in three years and took the overall record in the event to 55–45 in their favour.

The 102nd Boat Race took place on 24 March 1956. 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 rower Kenneth Payne, Cambridge won by 1+1⁄4 lengths in a time of 18 minutes 36 seconds, the fourth-quickest time in the history of the event. The victory took the overall record to 56–45 in their favour.

The 104th Boat Race took place on 5 April 1958. 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 by former Cambridge rower Kenneth Payne and featured the first cox to follow his father in steering one of the boats. The reigning champions Cambridge won by 3+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 18 minutes 15 seconds, the third-fastest winning time in history, and took the overall record to 58–45 in their favour.

The 107th Boat Race took place on 1 April 1961. 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 which was delayed, the lead changed hands several times and an Oxford rower slumped and nearly fell out of the boat. It was won by Cambridge by 4+1⁄4 lengths in a time of 19 minutes 22 seconds.

The 108th Boat Race took place on 7 April 1962. 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 Blue, Ran Laurie, it was won by Cambridge by five lengths in a time of 19 minutes 46 seconds. The race featured the heaviest oarsman since the inaugural race in 1829.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer . 6 April 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "TV and radio". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Oxford led all the way". The Observer . 29 March 1959. p. 1.
  8. ↑ Edwards, H.R.A., The Way of a Man with a Blade, p 7.
  9. 1 2 Burnell, pp. 49, 71–72
  10. ↑ "MC:P37/P1 Photograph Album". Magdalen College, Oxford. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  11. ↑ Schneer, p. 222
  12. 1 2 Schneer, p. 223
  13. 1 2 Dodd, p. 162
  14. ↑ Dodd, p. 164
  15. 1 2 3 Dodd, p. 166
  16. 1 2 Burnell, p. 79
  17. ↑ Burnell, p. 39
  18. ↑ Dodd, p. 337
  19. ↑ Burnell, pp. 50, 52
  20. 1 2 3 "Oxford steadily increase early Boat Race lead". The Times . No. 54421. 30 March 1959. p. 2.
  21. ↑ Thomson, Ian (28 March 1959). "Orthodoxy marks Oxford revival". The Observer . p. 22.
  22. ↑ "Oxford's long-awaited Boat Race win". The Illustrated London News . No. 6252. 4 April 1959. p. 555.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.