The Boat Race 1962

Last updated

108th Boat Race
Date7 April 1962
WinnerCambridge
Margin of victory5 lengths
Winning time19 minutes 46 seconds
Overall record
(CambridgeOxford)
5948
Umpire Ran Laurie
(Cambridge)

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.

Contents

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 1961 race by 4+14 lengths, [5] and led overall with 58 victories to Oxford's 48 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877). [6]

Cambridge were coached by J. R. F. Best, James Crowden (who rowed twice for Cambridge, in the 1951 and 1952 races), Brian Lloyd (a three-time Blue, rowing in the 1949, 1950 and 1951 races) and Harold Rickett (who rowed in the 1930, 1931 and 1932 races). Oxford's coaches were Jumbo Edwards (who rowed for Oxford in the 1926 and 1930 races), Ronnie Howard (who represented Oxford in the 1957 and 1959 races) and Antony Rowe (who had rowed in the 1948 and 1949 races). [7] Although the Cambridge crew were favourites on their arrival at Putney, and were reckoned to be "one of the best Boat Race crews for ten years", their early performances in practice did not impress the critics. [8] However, in their final row before the race, Cambridge took four seconds off the record time from the Mile Post to Putney Bridge, covering the distance in 4 minutes 6 seconds. [9]

The race was umpired by Ran Laurie who had rowed for Cambridge in the 1934, 1935 and 1936 races, [10] and had gone on to win a gold medal for Great Britain at the 1948 Summer Olympics. [11]

Crews

The Oxford crew weighed an average of 13  st 2.75  lb (83.6 kg), 2.75 pounds (1.2 kg) per rower more than their opponents. [12] The Cambridge crew saw two former Blues return, bow R. Nicholson, and number four A. J. Collier. Similarly, Oxford's crew contained two rowers with Boat Race experience, including C. M. Davis who was rowing at stroke for the third consecutive year. [13] Two non-British participants were registered in the race, both in the Cambridge crew: John Lecky, rowing at number five was a Canadian Olympic oarsman while American Boyce Budd occupied the six seat. [14] Budd, at 15 st 1 lb (95.5 kg) was the heaviest oarsman to feature in the Boat Race since J. J. Toogood who rowed for Oxford in the inaugural race in 1829. [15]

American rower Boyce Budd (pictured in 1964) occupied the number 6 seat for Cambridge. Boyce Budd 1964.jpg
American rower Boyce Budd (pictured in 1964) occupied the number 6 seat for Cambridge.
SeatOxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg
Cambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg
NameCollegeWeightNameCollegeWeight
Bow N. D. Tinne Keble 12 st 7 lbR. G. Nicholson (P) St Catharine's 12 st 4 lb
2D. D. S. Skailes Keble 13 st 4 lbC. T. Davey Jesus 11 st 6 lb
3J. Y. Scarlett Christ Church 13 st 10 lbR. A. Napier Lady Margaret Boat Club 13 st 0 lb
4R. A. Morton Keble 13 st 8 lbA. J. Collier Lady Margaret Boat Club 13 st 4 lb
5J. C. D. Sherratt St Edmund Hall 13 st 4 lb J. M. S. Lecky Jesus 14 st 1 lb
6T. W. Tennant New College 13 st 12 lb H. B. Budd 1st & 3rd Trinity 15 st 1 lb
7P. C. D. Burnell Magdalen 12 st 13 lbJ. N. L. Tollemache 1st & 3rd Trinity 13 st 9 lb
Stroke C. M. Davis (P) Lincoln 12 st 6 lb Lord Chewton 1st & 3rd Trinity 11 st 3 lb
Cox C. M. Strong Keble 8 st 6 lb R. Walmsley Queens' 9 st 0 lb
Source: [12]
(P) boat club president [16]

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

Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Oxford. [12] The race commenced at 3.45 p.m., [12] with the Dark Blues making a better start and quickly held the lead, as Cambridge had a "sticky second stroke". [17] With both crews rating 34 strokes per minute, the Light Blues quickly restored parity before taking the lead and holding a one-length advantage by Craven Steps. A spurt from Oxford reduced the deficit to half a length but Cambridge began to pull away again, despite being outrated by the Dark Blues. Another spurt at the Crab Tree saw the two crews level by Harrods Furniture Depository, and as they passed below Hammersmith Bridge. [17]

There, the Cambridge cox succeeded in forcing the Oxford boat wide and into rough water, and took advantage, drawing clear above Chiswick Eyot. [18] To avoid the breaking waves, Oxford pulled in behind the Light Blue boat and as such, the race as a contest was effectively ended. Cambridge continued to pull away and passed the finishing post with a lead of five lengths in a time of 19 minutes 46 seconds, the slowest winning time since the 1954 race. It was Cambridge's second consecutive victory and their largest winning margin since the 1955 race. [5] According to the rowing correspondent for The Times , "for Cambridge this was a most convincing though not unexpected victory". [19]

Related Research Articles

The 86th Boat Race took place on 17 March 1934. 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 the former rower Herbert Aylward Game, Cambridge won by 4+14 lengths in a time of 18 minutes 3 seconds, the fastest winning time in the history of the Boat Race at the time of the event. The record eleventh consecutive victory took the overall record in the event to 45–40 in Cambridge's favour.

The 87th Boat Race took place on 6 April 1935. 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 Oxford rower Robert Bourne, Cambridge won by four and a half lengths in a time of 19 minutes 48 seconds. The record twelfth consecutive victory took the overall record in the event to 46–40 in Cambridge's favour.

The 88th Boat Race took place on 4 April 1936. 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 the former Boat Race coach Francis Escombe, Cambridge won by five lengths in a time of 21 minutes 6 seconds. The record thirteenth consecutive victory took the overall record in the event to 47–40 in Cambridge's favour. The heaviest crew up to that year in Boat Race history, Cambridge were the first to weigh more than an average of 13 st (82.4 kg) per individual.

The 83rd Boat Race took place on 21 March 1931. 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 the former rower John Houghton Gibbon, Cambridge won by two and a half lengths in a time of 19 minutes 26 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 42–40 in their favour. It was the first race for which John Snagge provided a radio commentary for the BBC.

The 95th Boat Race took place on 26 March 1949. 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 London. The race, umpired by the former Oxford rower Guy Oliver Nickalls, was notable as the commentator for the BBC, John Snagge announced "I can't see who's in the lead, but it's either Oxford or Cambridge." Cambridge won by a quarter of a length, the narrowest margin of victory since the 1877 race, which was officially recorded as a dead heat. The victory took the overall record in the event to 51–43 in their favour.

The Boat Race 1870 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 109th Boat Race took place on 23 March 1963. 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, umpired by Gerald Ellison, the Bishop of Chester, was won by Oxford with a winning margin of five lengths.

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 66th Boat Race took place on 3 April 1909. 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, while Oxford's heavier crew contained three Olympic gold medallists. In a race umpired by Frederick I. Pitman, Oxford won by 3+12 lengths in a time of 19 minutes 50 seconds. It was their first win in four races and took the overall record to 35–30 in their favour.

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 Boat Race 1932 Oxford versus Cambridge rowing race

The 84th Boat Race took place on 19 March 1932. 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 Oxford rower Harcourt Gilbey Gold on a shortened because of repairs to Putney Bridge. Cambridge won by five lengths, the largest winning margin for three years, in a time of 19 minutes 11 seconds, their ninth consecutive victory. The win equalled the record victorious streaks of Oxford between 1861 and 1869, and 1890 and 1898, and took the overall record to 43–40 in their favour.

The 85th Boat Race took place on 1 April 1933. 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 the former rower Herbert Aylward Game, Cambridge won by 2+14 lengths in a time of 20 minutes 57 seconds. The record tenth consecutive victory took the overall record in the event to 44–40 in Cambridge's favour.

The 89th Boat Race took place on 24 March 1937. 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 the former Cambridge rower and coach Harold Rickett, Oxford won by three lengths in a time of 22 minutes 39 seconds. It was their first success since the 1923 race and ended Cambridge's record streak of 13 wins. The victory took the overall record in the event to 47–41 in Cambridge's favour.

The 91st Boat Race took place on 1 April 1939. 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 the former Oxford rower William Rathbone, Cambridge won by four lengths in a time of 19 minutes 3 seconds. The victory took the overall record in the event to 48–42 in Cambridge's favour. It would be the last race for seven years as following the outbreak of the Second World War.

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 99th Boat Race took place on 28 March 1953. 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 Oxford crew was slightly heavier than their opponents, was umpired by former rower Gerald Ellison. Cambridge won by eight lengths in a time of 19 minutes 54 seconds. It was their sixth win in seven years and took the overall record in the event to 54–44 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+12 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 106th The Boat Race took place on 2 April 1960. 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 a race umpired by former Cambridge rower Kenneth Payne and attended by Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, it was won by Oxford by 1+14 lengths in a time of 18 minutes 59 seconds, their second consecutive victory, which took the overall record in the event to 58–47 in Cambridge's 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+14 lengths in a time of 19 minutes 22 seconds.

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. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  5. 1 2 "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. Burnell, pp. 110111
  8. "Cambridge are recovering from poor start at Putney". The Guardian . 28 March 1962. p. 13.
  9. "Record row by Cambridge". The Guardian . 5 April 1962. p. 12.
  10. Burnell, pp. 49, 106
  11. Dodd, Christopher (10 October 1998). "Obituary: Dr Ran Laurie". The Independent . Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Burnell, p. 80
  13. Burnell, pp. 7980
  14. Burnell, p. 39
  15. "Chewton's task complicated". The Guardian . 7 April 1962. p. 4.
  16. Burnell, pp. 5152
  17. 1 2 "Cambridge triumph by smooth and orthodox methods: Oxford falter in rough water". The Guardian . 9 April 1962. p. 5.
  18. Burnell, p. 23
  19. "Fast time as Cambridge justify reputation". The Times (55361). 9 April 1962. p. 5.

Bibliography