The Boat Race

The Boat Race takes place every year during the spring, around Easter time. This year it is on Saturday the 29th March. The race is between the two universities Oxford and Cambridge.
This ritual started in 1829 at Henley on Thames Oxfordshire.

The 1829 Boat Race - The Oxford and Cambridge rowing match at Henley on Thames. Drawn by W. Havell and engraved by John Pye, 1829
Image courtesy of the River and Rowing Museum

The idea was thought up by two school friends from Harrow. One of them Charles Merivale then went to Cambridge, while the other Charles Wordsworth went to Oxford. Cambridge issued the first invitation to race and each boat contained eight rowers and a Cox. After that the loser always threw down the gauntlet to the winner for a re-match. It became a yearly event in 1856. After the first one the race moved to London and for a few years it was in and around the Westminster area of the river. But then the course which is four miles and 374 yards long moved to the Putney to Mortlake route, where it still takes place today. The rowers pass under the bridges of Barnes and Hammersmith. Each boat has a Cox to steer and sometimes the Cox is a woman. Sue Brown was the first for Oxford in 1981 and Henrietta Shaw was the first for Cambridge in 1985. They row with the tide, so the timing of the race occurs according to the tide. All the rowers have to be a student at the university that they row for. Matthew Pinsent and Tim Foster, who both won Olympic gold medals, took part for Oxford in the boat race during the nineties.

The boat used by the Oxford crew at the first Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race held at Henley on Thames in 1829 Image courtesy of the River and Rowing Museum

There has only been one dead heat between the rivals. This was in 1877, otherwise Oxford have won seventy - two times and Cambridge seventy - eight. The Cambridge boat famously sank in 1978 but this wasn't the first time it happened it also occurred in 1859. However Oxford also sank in 1925 making them the first to sink. Unlike Cambridge they have only done so once, so far. The atmosphere before the big event is warmed up by a race between the two reserve crews Isis for Oxford and Goldie for Cambridge.

The 1829 Oxford boat now hangs on permanent display in the roof of the Rowing Gallery at the River and Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames
Image courtesy of the River and Rowing Museum

The Boat Race is shown on television and people watch it all over the country. Some will watch from one of the advantage points of the course along the River Thames. The start and finish as you would expect, are the most popular places. Those lucky enough to live near the course hold boat race parties; they enjoy picnics and barbecues in their gardens despite the chance of cold weather. They can then stroll down and watch from the river till the boats are out of sight and then go back and follow the race on television. If you get there earlier enough you can go and explore, you may see the television crews doing interviews with spectators and experts. It can be great fun, the downside is it is a very popular event and the crowds are big. If you do decide to go then public transport is really the only way to travel.
Note: With special thanks to the River and Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames for their kind permission to use their Images and for their help. If you are interested in finding out more about rowing then why not visit the museum. To find out more go to www.rrm.co.uk

© Children's Web Magazine 2006 - 2007

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			The Boat Race
	The Boat Race takes place every year during the spring, around Easter time. This year it is on Saturday the 29th March. The race is between the two universities Oxford and Cambridge. This ritual started in 1829 at Henley on Thames Oxfordshire. The 1829 Boat Race - The Oxford and Cambridge rowing match at Henley on Thames. Drawn by W. Havell and engraved by John Pye, 1829 Image courtesy of the River and Rowing Museum The idea was thought up by two school friends from Harrow. One of them Charles Merivale then went to Cambridge, while the other Charles Wordsworth went to Oxford. Cambridge issued the first invitation to race and each boat contained eight rowers and a Cox. After that the loser always threw down the gauntlet to the winner for a re-match. It became a yearly event in 1856. After the first one the race moved to London and for a few years it was in and around the Westminster area of the river. But then the course which is four miles and 374 yards long moved to the Putney to Mortlake route, where it still takes place today. The rowers pass under the bridges of Barnes and Hammersmith. Each boat has a Cox to steer and sometimes the Cox is a woman. Sue Brown was the first for Oxford in 1981 and Henrietta Shaw was the first for Cambridge in 1985. They row with the tide, so the timing of the race occurs according to the tide. All the rowers have to be a student at the university that they row for. Matthew Pinsent and Tim Foster, who both won Olympic gold medals, took part for Oxford in the boat race during the nineties. The boat used by the Oxford crew at the first Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race held at Henley on Thames in 1829 Image courtesy of the River and Rowing Museum There has only been one dead heat between the rivals. This was in 1877, otherwise Oxford have won seventy - two times and Cambridge seventy - eight. The Cambridge boat famously sank in 1978 but this wasn't the first time it happened it also occurred in 1859. However Oxford also sank in 1925 making them the first to sink. Unlike Cambridge they have only done so once, so far. The atmosphere before the big event is warmed up by a race between the two reserve crews Isis for Oxford and Goldie for Cambridge. The 1829 Oxford boat now hangs on permanent display in the roof of the Rowing Gallery at the River and Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames Image courtesy of the River and Rowing Museum The Boat Race is shown on television and people watch it all over the country. Some will watch from one of the advantage points of the course along the River Thames. The start and finish as you would expect, are the most popular places. Those lucky enough to live near the course hold boat race parties; they enjoy picnics and barbecues in their gardens despite the chance of cold weather. They can then stroll down and watch from the river till the boats are out of sight and then go back and follow the race on television. If you get there earlier enough you can go and explore, you may see the television crews doing interviews with spectators and experts. It can be great fun, the downside is it is a very popular event and the crowds are big. If you do decide to go then public transport is really the only way to travel. Note: With special thanks to the River and Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames for their kind permission to use their Images and for their help. If you are interested in finding out more about rowing then why not visit the museum. To find out more go to www.rrm.co.uk © Children's Web Magazine 2006 - 2007
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