The Boat Race 1980

Last updated

126th Boat Race
Date5 April 1980
WinnerOxford
Margin of victoryCanvas
Winning time19 minutes 20 seconds
Overall record
(CambridgeOxford)
6857
UmpireAlan Burrough
Other races
Reserve winnerIsis
Women's winnerOxford

The 126th Boat Race took place on 5 April 1980. 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 in the closest finish for a century, despite one of its oarsmen collapsing before the end of the race.

Contents

In the reserve race, Isis beat Goldie by five lengths, and in the Women's Boat Race, Oxford were victorious.

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 miles (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 and followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide. [3] [4] Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having beaten Cambridge by 3+12 lengths in the previous year's race. However Cambridge held the overall lead, with 68 victories to Oxford's 56 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877). [5] The race was sponsored for fourth time by Ladbrokes. [6] [7] It was the last race to be commentated on BBC Radio by John Snagge. [8]

The first Women's Boat Race took place in 1927, but did not become an annual fixture until the 1960s. Until 2014, the contest was conducted as part of the Henley Boat Races, but as of the 2015 race, it is held on the River Thames, on the same day as the men's main and reserve races. [9] The reserve race, contested between Oxford's Isis boat and Cambridge's Goldie boat has been held since 1965. It usually takes place on the Tideway, prior to the main Boat Race. [10]

Cambridge coach Graeme Hall was stroke for the Light Blues in the 1968 race, racing against Oxford coach Daniel Topolski who was bowman for the Dark Blues that year. [11] Cambridge Boat Club president John Woodhouse noted: "We have cut down the number of formal dinners with old Blues and old coaches, and we have tried to keep the evenings quiet." [11]

Crews

The Oxford crew featured three Old Blues, Chris Mahoney, Mike Diserens, and Boris Rankov, who was rowing in his third University Boat Race. [12] In J.S. Palmer and A.G. Phillips, Cambridge's crew contained two Blues returning from the previous year's race. [6] Hugh Laurie was following the tradition of his father, former Light Blue president and Olympic gold medallist Ran, who had won the Boat Race in 1934, 1935 and 1936. [13]

Hugh Laurie rowed for Cambridge in 1980. Hugh Laurie Actors Guild.jpg
Hugh Laurie rowed for Cambridge in 1980.
Boris Rankov (pictured in 2015) made the third of his six appearances for Oxford. Boat Race 2015 - Boris Rankov.jpg
Boris Rankov (pictured in 2015) made the third of his six appearances for Oxford.
SeatOxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg
Cambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg
NameCollegeWeightNameCollegeWeight
Bow S. R. W. Francis Corpus Christi 13 st 12 lbL. W. J. Baart Gonville and Caius 13 st 4 lb
2N. A. Conington Oriel 13 st 0 lbM. F. Panter Lady Margaret Boat Club 14 st 1 lb
3 M. D. Andrews Magdalen 14 st 0.5 lbT. W. Whitney Jesus 13 st 7 lb
4 J. L. Bland Merton 13 st 11 lb J. H. C. Laurie Selwyn 13 st 12 lb
5 N. B. Rankov (P) Corpus Christi 14 st 3 lbA. G. Phillips Jesus 13 st 5.5 lb
6 C. J. Mahoney Oriel 13 st 6 lbJ. W. Woodhouse (P) Selwyn 13 st 9 lb
7T. C. M Barry Oriel 13 st 4.5 lbJ. S. Palmer Pembroke 14 st 8 lb
Stroke M. J. Diserens Keble 12 st 13 lbA. D. Dalrymple Downing 12 st 8 lb
Cox J. S Mead St Edmund Hall 8 st 3.5 lbC. J. Wigglesworth Jesus 7 st 13.5 lb
Source: [6]
(P) Boat club president

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

Oxford won the toss and elected to start on the Surrey station. [6] The race started at 4.45 pm. Following a clash soon after the start, and another at Harrods, the crews were level. Despite Oxford's number seven, Thomas Barry, losing part of his blade, his crew established a lead and defended it against a higher rating Cambridge. Umpire Alan Burrough allowed the race to continue, despite the clash and close steering. [14] By Barnes Bridge, Oxford's bowman, Steve Francis, was exhausted and "had more or less stopped rowing". [15] Cambridge's push continued but Oxford passed the finishing post with a canvas' advantage, the closest finish of the century. [16] Francis was treated for exhaustion, [15] but was later diagnosed with hepatitis. [7]

In the reserve race, Isis beat Goldie by five lengths, their first victory in four years. [10] In the 35th running of the Women's Boat Race, Oxford triumphed, only their second victory in twenty years. [10]

Reaction

It was the first time Oxford had won five consecutive races since 1913 and was the "closest finish since at least the turn of the century." [17] Laurie recalls his attempts to emulate his father's rowing career as "feeble". [16] Rankov, rowing in the third of his six Boat Races, recalls the race as one of his most memorable. [18] He continued: "It was unbelievable. They kept coming at us and every time we tried to get away nothing happened." [19] Woodhouse lamented: "All I can say is that we shouldn't have lost by so much." [19]

BBC reporter Snagge, commentating on his last Boat Race, remarked: "An absolutely cracking race ... a grand battle." [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Race 2003</span> Oxford versus Cambridge rowing

The 149th Boat Race took place on 6 April 2003. Held annually, the Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) tidal stretch of the River Thames in south-west London. The lead changed twice during the race, which Oxford won by one foot (30 cm): the smallest margin of victory in the history of the event. The close race has been described as "epic", while Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave suggested that the race was the "greatest we will see in our lifetimes".

The 151st Boat Race took place on 27 March 2005. Oxford won the race by two lengths in a time of 16 minutes 41 seconds. The race, umpired by the six-time Boat Race winner Boris Rankov, featured seven Olympic rowers. It was the first time the event was broadcast in the United Kingdom on ITV.

The 155th Boat Race took place on 29 March 2009. Oxford's crew was the heaviest in the event's history and which featured five Olympic rowers, including silver medallist Colin Smith and bronze medallist George Bridgewater. Cambridge took an early lead, only to be caught and overtaken by Oxford, who won the race by 3+12 lengths.

The 124th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 25 March 1978. Umpired by former Cambridge rower James Crowden, Oxford won in a time of 18 minutes and 58 seconds. The race was complicated by bad weather, and when faced with choppy water, a strong headwind and horizontal, driving rain, the Cambridge boat, which lacked splashboards, took on water and sank. It was the fifth time a boat had sunk during the event.

The 125th Boat Race took place on 17 March 1979. 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 150th anniversary race was won by Oxford by 3+12 lengths. For the first time in 50 years, neither crew featured foreign rowers, while Cambridge's stroke was replaced just hours before the race. Goldie won the reserve race in the slowest time in the history of the race while Cambridge won the Women's Boat Race.

The 129th Boat Race took place on 2 April 1983. 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 pre-race preparation saw Cambridge threaten to boycott the race for the first time, following the inclusion of Boris Rankov in the Oxford boat. The crews were the two heaviest in the history of the event, and featured ten former Boat Race competitors. Oxford won the race by 4+12 lengths.

The 130th Boat Race took place on 18 March 1984. 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 originally scheduled to take place the day before but the Cambridge boat struck a barge before the start and the race was postponed until the following day, making it the first Boat Race to be held on a Sunday. Oxford won by 3+34 lengths and both crews beat the existing course record.

The 136th Boat Race took place on 31 March 1990. 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 won by 2+14 lengths. The race featured the heaviest oarsman ever to have rowed in the event in Oxford's Chris Heathcote, and the lightest Cambridge crew for nearly 30 years.

The 138th Boat Race took place on 4 April 1992. 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 cox Andrew Probert was the oldest competitor in Boat Race history at the age of 38 years and 86 days. Oxford won by 1+14 lengths, the closest margin of victory for twenty years. The race also featured the first German competitor in the history of the event in Dirk Bangert. Umpired by former Cambridge rower Roger Stephens, Mike Rosewell writing in The Times described the race as "one of the greatest races since 1829".

The 127th Boat Race took place on 4 April 1981. 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 Ronnie Howard, it was won by Oxford who passed the finishing post eight lengths ahead of Cambridge, their largest margin of victory since 1898. The race saw Oxford coxed by Sue Brown, the first female cox in the history of the event.

The 119th Boat Race took place on 7 April 1973. 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 Cambridge who passed the finishing post thirteen lengths ahead of Oxford, the largest winning margin since the 1955 race. Despite being pre-race favourites, Oxford's warm-up saw them take on board a large amount of water in rough conditions.

The 128th Boat Race took place on 27 March 1982. 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 won by 3+14 lengths, securing their seventh consecutive victory. Their number five, Boris Rankov, won a record fifth Boat Race as a rower, and Oxford's Clay brothers became the first twins to win the event.

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 114th Boat Race took place on 30 March 1968. 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 Harold Rickett, was won by Cambridge by 3+12 lengths. Goldie won the reserve race and Cambridge won the Women's Boat Race.

The 121st Boat Race took place on 29 March 1975. 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 seventh race in eight years by 3+34 lengths in a time of 19 minutes and 27 seconds. The race was umpired by former Oxford rower Christopher Davidge.

The 120th Boat Race took place on 6 April 1974. 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 who passed the finishing post 5+12 lengths ahead of Cambridge, in a winning time of 17 minutes 35 seconds, the fastest in the history of the race, beating the existing record set in the 1948 race. It was umpired by Ran Laurie.

The 117th Boat Race took place on 27 March 1971. Held annually, it is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. It was won by Cambridge who passed the finishing post ten lengths ahead of Oxford, securing Cambridge's fourth consecutive victory. The winning time was, at that point, the second fastest in the history of the event.

The 115th Boat Race took place on 5 April 1969. 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 featured the heaviest oarsman in the history of the event in Cambridge's David Cruttenden. It was won by Cambridge who passed the finishing post four lengths ahead of Oxford, securing Cambridge's second consecutive victory. The winning time of 18 minutes 4 seconds was the third fastest in modern Boat Race history.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Races 2015</span> Annual race between Oxford and Cambridge universities

The 2015 Boat Races took place on 11 April 2015. Held annually, The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) tidal stretch of the River Thames in south-west London. For the first time in the history of the event, the men's, women's and both reserves' races were all held on the Tideway; in the men's reserve race, Cambridge's Goldie faced Oxford's Isis after the women's race, as a preliminary to the main men's race, while the women's reserve race, held the day before, saw Oxford's Osiris race against Cambridge's Blondie.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer . 6 April 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  2. Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  3. "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  4. "TV and radio". The Boat Race Company Ltd. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  5. "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Dodd, p. 348
  7. 1 2 "Professionalism arrives". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  8. Street, Seán (4 August 2009). The A to Z of British Radio. Scarecrow Press. p. 256. ISBN   978-0-8108-6847-2 . Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  9. "A brief history of the Women's Boat Race". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 "Men Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  11. 1 2 Dodd, Christopher (5 April 1980). "Tideway matchmakers". The Guardian . p. 22.
  12. Davies, Gareth A. (27 March 2009). "60 Second Interview: Boris Rankov, Boat Race Umpire". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  13. Dodd pp. 32829
  14. Railton, Jim (7 April 1980). "Magnificent seven beat brave eight". The Times . No. 60594. p. 11.
  15. 1 2 Dodd, p. 242
  16. 1 2 "Actor's 'feeble' bid to follow in father's shoes". Henley Standard . 2 July 2012. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  17. Jennings, Roger (6 April 1980). "Oxford battle to fifth win". The Observer . p. 1.
  18. Davies, Gareth A. (27 March 2009). "60 Second Interview: Boris Rankov, Boat Race Umpire". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  19. 1 2 Dodd, Christopher (7 April 1980). "On the canvas ...". The Guardian . p. 14.
  20. "Oxford bags it again". The Observer . 6 April 1980. p. 31.

Bibliography