The Boat Race 1983

Last updated

129th Boat Race
Date2 April 1983
WinnerOxford
Margin of victory​4 1⁄2 lengths
Winning time19 minutes 7 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)		68–60
Other races
Reserve winnerIsis
Women's winnerCambridge
← 1982 1984 →

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 1⁄2 lengths.

Contents

Isis won the reserve race, while Cambridge were victorious in the Women's Boat Race.

Background

The inclusion of Boris Rankov (pictured in 2015) in Oxford's crew was controversial. Boat Race 2015 - Boris Rankov.jpg
The inclusion of Boris Rankov (pictured in 2015) in Oxford's crew was controversial.

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 were the reigning champions, having beaten Cambridge by ​3 1⁄4 lengths in the previous year's race. However, Cambridge held the overall lead, with 68 victories to Oxford's 59 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877). [5] The race was sponsored by Ladbrokes; [6] the winner was awarded the Ladbrokes Trophy. [7]

On 7 March 1983, Cambridge issued a statement suggesting that they might boycott the race following a dispute over Oxford's selection of Boris Rankov as a member of their crew. [6] Veteran of the previous five Boat Races, all of which were Dark Blue victories, Cambridge argued Rankov was ineligible for inclusion as he was a lecturer at the university. [8] Coach David Townsend of the University of London offered the services of his crew to provide an opponent for Oxford, should Cambridge refuse to participate. [9] Rankov himself had offered to withdraw from the race, but the Dark Blues' committee rejected this. [9] Cambridge finally agreed to race after they reached an agreement with Oxford to discuss and possibly tighten the eligibility criteria. [8] This ultimately led to establishment of the so-called "Rankov Rule", which states that oarsmen will compete in the race no more than four times as an undergraduate and no more than four times as a graduate. [10]

The first Women's Boat Race took place in 1927, but did not become an annual fixture until the 1960s. Up 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. [11] 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. [12]

Crews

The two crews were the heaviest in Boat Race history, Oxford averaging 14  stone 8  lbs (92.3 kg) per rower, nearly 7 pounds (3.2 kg) a man heavier than the Cambridge crew, and were pre-race favourites to win an eighth consecutive race. [13] Cambridge's crew featured six unsuccessful Blues, while Oxford's boat contained four Blues with ten Boat Race victories between them. [13] While seven of the Oxford rowers were international post-graduates, Cambridge's crew included seven undergraduates. [14] The average age of the Oxford crew was 25, four years more than Cambridge. [9]

John Garrett (pictured in 2018) rowed at number 7 for Cambridge. Boat Race 2018 - Men's Blues Race (03).jpg
John Garrett (pictured in 2018) rowed at number 7 for Cambridge.
SeatOxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg 		Cambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg
NameCollegeWeightNameCollegeWeight
Bow W J Lang Magdalen 14 st 13 lb E M G Pearson Jesus 12 st 10 lb
2H E Clay Magdalen 14 st 6 lbA R Knight Clare 12 st 9 lb
3H P Yonge New College 14 st 8 lbB M Philp Downing 15 st 5 lb
4G R D Jones New College 14 st 5 lbC D Heard Lady Margaret Boat Club 15 st 7 lb
5 N B Rankov St Hugh's 15 st 5 lbS W Berger 1st Trinity 15 st 5 lb
6J M Evans University 14 st 6 lbP R W Sheppard Lady Margaret Boat Club 15 st 11 lb
7 W M Evans University 14 st 6 lb J L Garrett Lady Margaret Boat Club 14 st 7 lb
Stroke J L Bland Merton 14 st 4 lbS A Harris Queens' ?
Cox S E Higgins Exeter 8 st 0 lbI Bernstein Emmanuel 7 st 10 lb
Source: [13]

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. [7] Oxford, rowing at a higher rate, took an early lead and were clear of Cambridge by the Mile Post. Extending their lead to six seconds by Hammersmith Bridge, Oxford pushed on to lead by nine seconds at Chiswick Steps. [7] Despite trying to keep in touch, Cambridge were four lengths behind at Barnes Bridge and trailed by 13 seconds as Oxford passed the finishing post. [7] Oxford won by ​4 1⁄2 lengths in a time of 19 minutes 7 seconds. [12]

This was Oxford's eighth consecutive victory, and their ninth in ten years, and took the overall record to 68–60 in favour of Cambridge. [12] The race was watched by 14 million television viewers. [14]

In the reserve race, Oxford's Isis beat Cambridge's Goldie by ​6 1⁄2 lengths, [7] while Cambridge won the 38th Women's Boat Race. [12]

Related Research Articles

The Boat Race 2003 2003 boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities

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 multiple 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 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 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.

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 1⁄2 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 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 3⁄4 lengths and both crews beat the existing course record.

The 131st Boat Race took place on 6 April 1985. Held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. Oxford won by ​4 3⁄4 lengths. Bruce Philp became the first man to row for both universities having previously rowed for Cambridge, and Henrietta Shaw became the first female cox for Cambridge.

The 132nd Boat Race took place on 29 March 1986. 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 seven lengths and took their first victory in eleven years, in one of the fastest winning times in the history of the event. Cambridge were coxed for the first time by a woman, Carole Burton. Isis won the reserve race, while Oxford were victorious in the Women's Boat Race.

The 123rd Boat Race took place on 19 March 1977. 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 seven lengths, their biggest margin of victory for more than 90 years. It was the first time in the history of the event that one of the crews, Oxford, used a plastic boat as opposed to a wooden one. It was also the first race to have an official sponsor in Ladbrokes.

The 133rd Boat Race took place on 29 March 1987. 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 four lengths. The race featured the tallest, heaviest, youngest and oldest crew members in the event's history.

The 135th Boat Race took place on 25 March 1989. 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 1⁄2 lengths. It was the seventh occasion that the race was umpired by Ronnie Howard, and the first time in the history of the race that both crews were coxed by women.

The 134th Boat Race took place on 2 April 1988. Held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. Oxford won by ​5 1⁄2 lengths in a time of 18 minutes 27 seconds, the equal-fourth fastest time in the event's history. The race was umpired by former Cambridge rowing Blue Mike Sweeney.

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 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 1⁄4 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 122nd Boat Race, an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames, took place on 20 March 1976 and was won by Oxford by ​6 1⁄2 lengths in 16 minutes 58 seconds, the fastest time in the history of the race. The race was umpired by former Cambridge rower Farn Carpmael. It was the first race in the event for which an official weigh-in was held, and featured the heaviest rower ever in Steve Plunkett.

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 3⁄4 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 1⁄2 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 118th Boat Race took place on 1 April 1972. 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. Umpired by former Cambridge rower Philip Carpmael, the race was won by Cambridge, who passed the finishing post ​9 1⁄2 lengths ahead of Oxford in a time of 18 minutes and 36 seconds, their fifth consecutive victory. The win took the overall record since 1829 to 66–51 in favour of Cambridge.

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 Boat Races 2015 2015 boat races 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 male 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

  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 Limited. 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 Railton, Jim (8 March 1983). "Growing threat to Boat Race". The Times (61475). p. 24.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Railton, Jim (4 April 1983). "Hearts as big as their boat". The Times (61497). p. 12.
  8. 1 2 "Sports People; Crew Dispute Settled". The New York Times . 11 March 1983.
  9. 1 2 3 Miller, David (10 March 1983). "Oxford go overboard with their powerboat politics". The Times (61477). p. 19.
  10. ↑ Davies, Gareth A. (27 March 2009). "60 Second Interview: Boris Rankov, Boat Race Umpire". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 Railton, Jim (2 April 1983). "Cambridge need some help from the Tideway". The Times (61496). p. 17.
  14. 1 2 Miller, David (4 April 1983). "Beware jock-strap crew". The Times (61497). p. 12.
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.