The Boat Race 1997

Last updated

143rd Boat Race
Date29 March 1997
WinnerCambridge
Margin of victory2 lengths
Winning time17 minutes 38 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)		74–68
Umpire Tom Cadoux-Hudson
(Oxford)
Other races
Reserve winnerGoldie
Women's winnerCambridge
← 1996 1998 →

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.

Contents

In the reserve race, Cambridge's Goldie beat Oxford's Isis by ​6 1⁄2 lengths. Cambridge won the 52nd Women's Boat Race.

Background

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing 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 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] Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1996 race by ​2 3⁄4 lengths, [3] and led overall with 73 victories to Oxford's 68 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877). [4] The race was the last to be sponsored by Beefeater Gin. [5] [6]

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. [7] 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. [3]

Crews

Oxford's Mijnders was the Dutch international coach. Rene Mijnders (2008-08-25).jpg
Oxford's Mijnders was the Dutch international coach.

The weigh-in was held at the Hurlingham Club on 24 March 1997. The Cambridge crew, pre-race favourites, [8] weighed an average of 1 pound (0.45 kg) more per rower than Oxford, with Cambridge's Alex Story the heaviest man in the race at 16 stone (100 kg). [9] The crews were the tallest in the history of the race, with Cambridge averaging 6 ft 5.25 in (1.96 m) to Oxford's 6 ft 4.5 in (1.94 m). [9] Oxford's Roberto Blanda became the first Blue from Italy. [8] Cambridge's crew featured three former Blues, while Oxford's crew contained none. [10]

Cambridge were coached once again by Robin Williams, [5] while Oxford were guided by Dutchman René Mijnders, who had led the Netherlands to Olympic gold in Atlanta in the men's eight. [11]

SeatOxford
Oxford-University-Circlet.svg 		Cambridge
University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg
NameCollegeWeightNameCollegeWeight
Bow James Roycroft Keble 13 st 7 lbDavid Cassidy Trinity Hall 13 st 8.5 lb
2Charlie Humphreys Oriel 12 st 8 lbRoger Pim Downing 13 st 5.5 lb
3Nick Robinson Lincoln 13 st 9 lbDamien Maltarp Double-dagger-14-plain.png Trinity 13 st 6 lb
4 A Lindsay Brasenose 14 st 2.5 lbBrad Crombie Peterhouse 14 st 10.5 lb
5 Roberto Blanda Brasenose 15 st 6.5 lbEthan Ayer Double-dagger-14-plain.png St Edmund's 15 st 6 lb
6 L Grubor Somerville 15 st 9 lbAlan Watson Sidney Sussex 13 st 6 lb
7Jordan Irving Keble 13 st 10 lb A Story Double-dagger-14-plain.png St Edmund's 16 st 0 lb
Stroke T Foster St Cross 13 st 11.5 lbJames Ball Robinson 13 st 2 lb
Cox P A Greaney St Edmund Hall 8 st 7.5 lb Kevin Whyman Peterhouse 7 st 13 lb
Source: [9]
Double-dagger-14-plain.png– Two days prior to the race, Maltarp moved from 7 to 3, Ayer from 3 to 5 and Story from 5 to 7. [12]

Race description

The Championship Course University Boat Race Thames map.svg
The Championship Course

Oxford's non-rowing boat club president Ed Bellamy won the toss and selected the Surrey station as the starting point for his crew, Cambridge therefore started from the Middlesex station. Immediately from the start, Cambridge cox Kevin Whyman steered into the Oxford water, closing the lateral gap between the boats and securing a series of warnings from race umpire Tom Cadoux-Hudson. [13] Oxford held a lead of a few feet round the Fulham bend, but the crews were level at the mile post. By Hammersmith Bridge, Oxford had pulled away marginally to hold a one-third length lead, but superior steering by Whyman around the Surrey bend pulled Cambridge back into contention, level by the Chiswick Steps, and a length ahead by Barnes Bridge. Moving across, Cambridge took Oxford's clear water and passed the finishing post six seconds and two lengths ahead. [13] [14] It was Cambridge's fourth consecutive victory and took the overall record to 74–68 in their favour. [13] By the end of the race, umpire Cadoux-Hudson had issued 132 warnings to the crews. [15]

In the reserve race, Cambridge's Goldie beat Oxford's Isis by ​6 1⁄2 lengths, [3] and in the 52nd running of the Women's Boat Race, Cambridge also triumphed. [3]

Reaction

Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave presented Cambridge with the Beefeater Trophy and both crews with their medals. Oxford's coach Mijnders said "After the big bend, Cambridge were actually flying ... the further the race went on, the better Cambridge rowed". [14] Cambridge coach Williams noted "Some of our boys took some stick in the press, but they responded to the pressure and were brilliant." [14] Oxford's stroke and Olympic bronze medallist Tim Foster told his crew "We'll always remember we lost the Boat Race, but don't forget we are still good rowers." [13] Cadoux-Hudson stated in an interview that there were two occasions where the blades clashed: "Cambridge were being warned on one occasion and Oxford on the other, so I think it equalled out at the end. I don't think it affected the outcome". [16]

Related Research Articles

The 153rd The Boat Race took place on 7 April 2007, and featured the most non-British rowers in the history of the event. 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 were considerably heavier than their opponents. Oxford won the toss but Cambridge won the race by ​1 1⁄4 lengths in a time of 17 minutes 49 seconds.

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 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 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 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 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 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 1⁄4 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 137th Boat Race took place on 30 March 1991. 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 one of only two men to have rowed for both universities, won by ​4 1⁄4 lengths.

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 1⁄4 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 139th Boat Race took place on 27 March 1993. 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, using "cleaver blades" for the first time in the history of the race, won by ​3 1⁄2 lengths in a victory that was described in The Times as "crushingly conclusive". The winning time of 17 minutes exactly was the fourth-fastest time in the event. In winning the event, Cambridge prevented Oxford making it seventeen wins from the last eighteen races and levelling the overall score for the first time since the 1929 race.

The 140th Boat Race took place on 26 March 1994. 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 ​6 1⁄2 lengths. The race saw the first competitors from Norway in the history of the race, in brothers Snorre and Sverke Lorgen. It was also the first time that both competing coxes had previously won the event.

The 141st Boat Race took place on 1 April 1995. 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. Marko Banovic became the first rower from Croatia to participate in the event. Cambridge won by four lengths.

The 142nd Boat Race took place on 6 April 1996. 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 a former Blue, Mike Sweeney, Cambridge won by ​2 3⁄4 lengths in the second-fastest time in the history of the race.

The 144th Boat Race took place on 28 March 1998. 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, with the heaviest crew in the history of the event, won by three lengths in a record time of 16 minutes 19 seconds.

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 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 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 116th Boat Race took place on 28 March 1970. 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 ​3 1⁄2 lengths ahead of Oxford, securing Cambridge's third consecutive victory. The race was particularly notable for the "unorthodox" steering of the Oxford cox Ashton Calvert.

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.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". The Boat Race Company Ltd. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  5. 1 2 Miller, David (25 March 1997). "Oxford surpass Topolski's masterclass". The Times (65846). p. 52.
  6. ↑ Dodd, Christopher (29 May 1997). "Blow for Boat Race". The Guardian . p. 25.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. 1 2 Hughes, Rob (28 March 1997). "Afternoon tide brings harsh reality of despair and elation in equal parts". The Times (65849). p. 46.
  9. 1 2 3 Roswell, Mike (25 March 1997). "Weigh-in offers few clues to the outcome of Boat Race". The Times (65846). p. 48.
  10. ↑ Roswell, Mike (29 March 1997). "Oxford appear poised to reach the higher peak". The Times (65850). p. 46.
  11. ↑ Matheson, Hugh (27 March 1997). "Mijnders masterminds Oxford revival". The Independent . Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  12. ↑ Hughes, Rob (29 March 1997). "Emotions rising on the river of tears". The Times (65850). p. 48.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Hughes, Rob (31 March 1997). "Cambridge rise to the ultimate challenge". The Times (65851). p. 27.
  14. 1 2 3 Rosewell, Mike (31 March 1997). "Oxford hopes washed away by charge". The Times (65851). p. 27.
  15. ↑ Rosewell, Mike (30 March 1999). "Umpire promised an easier race to handle". The Times (66475). p. 42.
  16. ↑ Dodd, Christopher (31 May 1997). "Streetwise Cambridge are the kings of the river". The Guardian . p. 17.
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