The Boat Race 2014

Last updated

160th Boat Race
Boat Race 2014 - Trophy.jpg
The 2014 trophy on display
Date6 April 2014 (2014-04-06)
WinnerOxford
Margin of victory11 lengths
Winning time18 minutes 36 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)		81–78
Umpire Richard Phelps
(Cambridge)
Other races
Reserve winnerIsis
Women's winnerOxford
← 2013 2015 →

The 160th Boat Race took place on 6 April 2014. Following a clash of oars which broke one of the Cambridge boat's rigger backstays, Oxford won the race by 11 lengths, the largest margin of victory since 1973.

Contents

In the reserve race Oxford's Isis beat Cambridge's Goldie, while Oxford won the Women's Boat Race.

Background

The Boat Race is an annual rowing eight competition between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. First held in 1829, the competition is a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) race along The Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London. [1] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide. [2] Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having beaten Cambridge by 1+1⁄2 lengths in the previous year's race. However Cambridge held the overall lead, with 81 victories to Oxford's 77 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877). [3]

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. [4] 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.

Crews

The Cambridge boat Boat Race 2014 - Main Race (49).jpg
The Cambridge boat
The Oxford boat Boat Race 2014 - Main Race (60).jpg
The Oxford boat

The Cambridge crew (known as the "Light Blues") had a 5-kilogram (11 lb) per person advantage, but Oxford (the "Dark Blues") were the pre-race favourites. [5] The Cambridge crew was 24 years old on average, while Oxford averaged 26 years. [6] The Oxford crew featured three British rowers, two Canadians, two New Zealanders, an American, and one member with dual Canadian-American citizenship. The Cambridge crew consisted of three British rowers, four Americans, an Australian, and a German. [2] Three of the Oxford rowers had competed in the Olympics. [7]

SeatOxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg 		Cambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg
NameCollegeHeightWeightNameCollegeHeightWeight
Bow Storm Uru Keble190 cm (6 ft 3 in)80.4 kgMike ThorpHomerton194 cm (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in)88.0 kg
2Tom WatsonBrasenose181 cm (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)72.1 kgLuke JuckettSt Edmund's186 cm (6 ft 1 in)84.2 kg
3Karl HudspithSt Peter's199.5 cm (6 ft 6+1⁄2 in)91 kgIvo DawkinsGonville and Caius203 cm (6 ft 8 in)89.2 kg
4Tom SwartzChrist Church189 cm (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in)81.2 kgSteve Dudek (P)St Edmund's203 cm (6 ft 8 in)101.0 kg
5 Malcolm Howard (P)Oriel200 cm (6 ft 6+1⁄2 in)108.2 kgHelge GruetjenMagdalene204 cm (6 ft 8+1⁄2 in)99.6 kg
6 Michael di Santo Trinity184 cm (6 ft 1⁄2 in)89.2 kgMatthew JacksonSt Edmund's198 cm (6 ft 6 in)94.4 kg
7Sam O'ConnorChrist Church185 cm (6 ft 1 in)88.8 kgJoshua HooperSt Edmund's194 cm (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in)92.0 kg
Stroke Constantine Louloudis Trinity190 cm (6 ft 3 in)93.6 kg Henry Hoffstot Hughes Hall195 cm (6 ft 5 in)89.6 kg
Cox Laurence HarveySt Hugh's174 cm (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)54.8 kg Ian Middleton Queens'173 cm (5 ft 8 in)53.6 kg
Source: [6]
(P) – Boat club president

Race description

At race time, conditions were mild with an overcast sky. [5] A crowd of 250,000 people were in attendance. [2] It was sponsored by BNY Mellon and thus officially titled "The BNY Mellon Boat Race". [8] Oxford won the coin toss and elected to start from the southern bank of the Thames. In the first five minutes of the race, the lead changed hands three times. First Oxford, then Cambridge drifted towards the centre of the river and were warned by the umpire. Oxford turned away, but before Cambridge had time to do so, the two boats bumped. The clash caused a rowing error by Cambridge's Luke Juckett, as he was bucked from his seat and nearly thrown overboard. He did not recover until five strokes later. Oxford took advantage, rowing out to a significant lead with two-thirds of the course to go, and steadily increased the gap. Cambridge were unable to respond and in the end Oxford won by 11 lengths, the largest margin of victory since 1973. [9]

Oxford finished with a time of 18 minutes, 36 seconds; this was 32 seconds faster than Cambridge. It was their fifth victory in the last seven years, and tenth in the last fifteen. [7] Stroke Constantine Louloudis was a member of a victorious Oxford crew for the third time (2011, 2013 and 2014 – he competed in the Olympics instead in 2012). Cambridge now lead the overall series 81–78. [5] At the finish, the Oxford crew threw their cox, Laurence Harvey, into the water in celebration. [5] After the race, Cambridge appealed the result but umpire Richard Phelps ruled that the bump occurred on neutral water and that neither crew should be penalised. Oxford's Sam O’Connor called it "very minor, one of the smallest clashes I’ve ever had". [9] Juckett said the clash broke his rigger and made it "really hard to keep rowing", [9] but added that "clashing is part of the race." [7]

In the reserve race, Oxford's Isis beat Cambridge's Goldie. [9] Earlier, Oxford also won the women's race. [7]

Reaction

O'Connor said he was confident Oxford would have won even without the clash. Oxford Boat Club president Malcolm Howard remarked "You cannot help but feel for the two-seat of Cambridge, it’s tough." [9] Cambridge Boat Club president Steve Dudek called it "a frustrating way to lose ... I would never wish that on anyone." [9] BBC commentator Tom James remarked it was "great for British rowing" that Louloudis won the race for the third time. [7]

An estimated 130 million people worldwide watched the event on television. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Race</span> Rowing races between Cambridge and Oxford

The Boat Race is an annual set of rowing races between the Cambridge University Boat Club and the Oxford University Boat Club, traditionally rowed between open-weight eights on the River Thames in London, England. There are separate men's and women's races, as well as races for reserve crews. It is also known as the University Boat Race and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The men's race was first held in 1829 and has been held annually since 1856, except during the First and Second World Wars and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The first women's event was in 1927 and the race has been held annually since 1964. Since 2015, the women's race has taken place on the same day and course, and since 2018 the combined event of the two races has been referred to as the Boat Race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford University Women's Boat Club</span> British rowing club

Oxford University Women's Boat Club (OUWBC) is the rowing club for female rowers who are students at the University of Oxford. The club was founded in 1926 and is now based in Wallingford at the Fleming Boat House, along with OUBC, OUWLRC and OULRC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's Boat Race</span> Boat race on the River Thames

The Women's Boat Race is an annual rowing race between Cambridge University Women's Boat Club and Oxford University Women's Boat Club. First rowed in 1927, the race has taken place annually since 1964. Since the 2015 race it has been rowed on the same day and course as the men's Boat Race on the River Thames in London, taking place around Easter, and since 2018 the name "The Boat Race" has been applied to the combined event. The race is rowed in eights and the cox can be of any gender.

The 150th Boat Race took place on 28 March 2004. Cambridge won by six lengths after a race with several clashes of oars. Oxford's appeal for a re-row upon the conclusion of the race was rejected by umpire James Behrens. The event was sponsored for the final time by Aberdeen Asset Management and broadcast in the United Kingdom by the BBC.

The 159th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on 31 March 2013. 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 Cambridge crew featured the first rower from the Czech Republic to compete in the event. Umpired by former Olympic medallist and former Oxford rower Matthew Pinsent, Oxford won by a margin of 1+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 17 minutes and 27 seconds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Race 2011</span> Oxford versus Cambridge rowing race

The 157th Boat Race took place on 26 March 2011. 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. Of the eighteen competitors in the race, thirteen were British. The race was sponsored for the second time by Xchanging.

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+1⁄2 lengths.

The 152nd Boat Race took place on 2 April 2006. 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, whose crew contained the first French rower in the history of the event, won the race by five lengths which was umpired by former Oxford rower Simon Harris.

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.

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 143rd Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 29 March 1997. Umpired by former Oxford rower Tom Cadoux-Hudson, Cambridge won in a time of 17 minutes and 38 seconds.

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 145th Boat Race took place on 3 April 1999. 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. Featuring the tallest rower in Boat Race history at that time, Cambridge won the race in the second-fastest time ever. It was their seventh consecutive victory in 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 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 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.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Races 2016</span> 2016 boat races between Oxford and Cambridge universities

The 2016 Boat Races took place on 27 March 2016. 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 on the same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Races 2017</span> 2017 boat races between Oxford and Cambridge universities

The Boat Races 2017 took place on 2 April 2017. 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 second time in the history of the event, the men's, women's and both reserves' races were all held on the Tideway on the same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boat Race 2018</span> 2018 boat races between Oxford and Cambridge universities

The Boat Race 2018 took place on 24 March 2018. 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 third time in the history of the event, the men's, women's and both reserves' races were all held on the Tideway on the same day.

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Oxford wins 160th Boat Race". Yahoo! Sports. AP. 6 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  6. 1 2 "The 2014 Blue Boats". The BNY Mellon Boat Race. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Higginson, Marc (6 April 2014). "Boat Race 2014: Oxford emphatically beat Cambridge". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "New sponsor for the Boat Race". University of Cambridge. 8 February 2012. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Quarrell, Rachel (6 April 2014). "The Boat Race 2014: Oxford University claim biggest win over Cambridge since 1973". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
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.