HISTORIC CONTEST

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 82, 5 April 1924, Page 20

HISTORIC CONTEST

OXFORD v. CAMBRIDGE

TO-DAY-S EIGHT-OAHED RACE

ON THE THAMES

'mrc cniiWß unoaomd.

Tlio .prelinimiir.v Hspnclnifnitirlg in connection with |,||o | M i t imtl liDiil, race, beiwocn Oxford iiml C-ttnibvldi,'.) Uuiviwi. tii'B Jii.s now hi,,.,, over for minio .limn. '"•'I <lm% il m , mB (, S | x WIH! | (M lho C) . uwj( liuvo b(H'» rowing in H,,, j»on«tion«- limy will occupy i,, 11,,, !•»(•,> io 1.,,, a«i idtnl ,m Uio Tliim,o« {.why, i;,,,.!, cruw , |||N passed through n process of selection for tho vuciuit t]iwni-i« tlmt Jwia entailed mixh arduous work by each member of l|i o two crews; its well us much thought on Uw part of the selectors at each university, culmination of all this menUl and physical labour ends to-day with the raco itself W, tho historic course fro ,i 1 utnoy to Mortlake, a map of which appears in these columns. , According to atest ady lC es through tho Proas AeeociaYon, it is anticipated that a very cloho struggle- will eventuate, and no attempt ..has, las far as this Dominion j s concerned, been made to forecaet the result. The distance to bo rowed is about 41 miles. > 4

Oxford has been considerably less wor-i w?n n ClVi"§ es thau llae been too wse with Cambridge, the Light Blue crew having undergone a number of. changes trom illness and other causes. The Dark Blues' are in the, fortunate position of Having Hve of last yea»'s winning. crew m residence, including the stroke, a^fac- ">' which must | appreciably' increase their cha.nces of winning the event this year, Cambridge, on the other hand, have had no luck. Several »jf their crew .have been absent for lengthy periods through illness, and Tbpham, their' No o, met with ,an accident to his knee in

February, an unfortunate occurrence, which happened just as' the crew was beginning to settle into shape. -!

OXFORD'S FINAL SELECTION. *"

The final selection of the Oxford crew is as follows, though - there may have been recent alterations as the* result of accident or other cause:—' ''■'' ''

P. C. Mallam (lancing and Queens) bOW ': ;,, - ■ ; \-Tl 19 P. R. Wace (Canterbury. andTßrasenose)' ' No.. 2 .....';.„.J..'..,,'.:....;'.': ::.......... ' 1° 0 K. E. Eason (Abiugdonand Xil SoiiisV "' ' fto. 3 Jr...;,:...: ■ 13 0 B. S. Nicholl (Marlboroueli and Worcester), No. 4:.:.: ....; ■■■ ..•'' 13 6 ' «. J. -Mower-White (Rugby■ and" Brase- : ' nose), No. 5: .i.... > jjj J. E. Pedder- (Shrewsbury and. Wor- ' cester), No. 6 ;.....: 13.2 W. V. Godden (Shrewsbury and Trinity), W.'P°' MelienyctiVsirr'aud'Brasenose)-; stroke ....: ; .■ jj. 0 A. C. Nisbett (Winchester and Brasenose),- cos ;.... g 2 Average weight, 12st 31b.

, W. P. Mellen, at stroke, rowed in the' Eeander crew ;which won at Toronto last year. He is isaid to be a better stroke than ho was r last year, in addition to which he has gained 'considerable experience and more life since he stroked a crew over the-shorter Henley course. He still rows the stroke in two pieces when he, is paddling) and.allows his slide to run up under him, the. last two inches coming forward. ■ "His body form us .excellent," declared a* criticl in *a recent issue of "The Times," "and ,it is this -which makes' him suuh an "easy stroke to row behind." The, strength' of the crow \yaa said to'lie with him! and the other heavyweights. ,'. ,W. F. Godden, at' No. 7, was one of. tho best schoolboy oarsmen of- receiit •years-in 1920, and it was expected that he would gain' his Blue in liis first year ,at Trinity.. His form, however, was disappointing in the trials,-and,ho"never really .:re'g>ined it until last year at Henley,, when, with Eason, he won' the Gob-: lets', unexpectedly defeating H. E. Play-, ford and G: O.'Nickalls;

j. E. Pedder (No., 6), one of last year's Wavy weights, is said this year to be as steady and reliable as he was last year, and a great boat-pusher. / . G. J. Mower r \Vhito (Ko. 5), another heavyweight, who was also in last year's crew but then showed signs of inexperi,ence, has improved greatly. , He ( has great length, and his swing in the'middle of the-boat is a fine asset to the rest of the ,crew; ■ . „ ~

B. Si. Nicholl (No. 4), a newcomer to Oxford, who has only been rowing for two years, is expected to greatly strengthen the crew. Ho is a natural oar, capable of springing off the stretcher in a manner yvhich eludes - many experienced men throughout their , rowing careers. He had the misfortune to strain himself during the early stages of practice, but is said to'have entirely .recovered. . •■' • ' .

K. E. Eason (No. 3), who partnered Godden in 1 the. race for the Goblets at Henley Jast year, is rowing on the bow side for the first time, and, although he is said to have improved very rapidly since.the beginning of practice, he was not getting his work on quite with the others, and competent critics considered there was some risk that he would be wasted unless changed over, an alteration1 which has not been accomplished. It is no easy matter for an oarsman to adapt himself in a short ieasonto the other side of the boat, and a lieavyweyjlit who is on the slow side cannot be doing a heavyweight's work.

P. R, Wace (No, 2) will have .his workout out to keep the boat-straight,, declare the 'critics, 'with the balance- nf weight on the bow side. He is an Old Blue, who has a. good reputation ar, a worker, but is said to be a little short and rather slow,, though it was expected that he would loosen out after steady practice. ' ■ >.

P. C. Mallam, who is wielding the bow oar, is president of this year's crew, as he was last year. He was- a member of the winning Leander crew which visited Toronto last year. Mallarii has admirably filled the position in the bow for some time, in addition to which he is a great judge of rowing, as -well as being an admirable mentor.

"There is iio doubt that' Mallain his a rine crew this year," declared a competent authority in "The- limes" recently, "and there, is every prospect, of

the crew turning out well, especially when one considers the coaches"" whom they will be under, and the steadiness :irul stride which they have already hlihwii." l)r. O. C. Bourne, a well-known IHuo, carried out the coaching while tho crow wen; Htiilioncd at. Oxford, after which Mr. ).;. |), llornfull iinotlier noted rowing mnlnielor, who ih uliio an old Who, t.iiol; llieni nv«i' on arrival ut MarInw. Vdr Uio jinst Uirco 'witrkn practice liiiii hci'ii fin thu Milov/ii.y ill, I'utney, wi/.li Mr, 11Hfcourt (idlil, one of Oxford's MIOhIi ll0lt>(l I'l/Wllllr JiltlOil, WllO IIHB pill th« DniiililiiK loucJips on Uio crew. Air. (.lolil him h(<t'li it ur'eill/'itKHel, lo Oxford fur soiiio ynttl'dj iiiid It wiih recently do* t'Umki Ilint. hlft litlvlci) (Hid iiiHtruction lincl Ihii:ii lliftl.l'iliiit'iit.itl in a grenl deal Of Oxfoi'll'tt KIttTCSH, ,

'j'uii 4!AMi.HtiDais cnicw,

Ouriilii'iilgu hdVu Homo good nintcrial, mid l.liv t'uet'lit cliliiikii nftcr llifiir labuui'H ■on Mm C'utit Oi Uio lighter water at Kly^ utitl luiur niin to (,h,, (Jijcidiiig tj<l c wutur of tlio 'I'lnniavi, giivo llin crew it great lilli|>. A grcut ilonl ..of piogrcHs hofl bouit iiiiulo uiruii; Colonel Waucliupo took (ivcr Uio boat. It, wiw fully expected that t hoy would lio lighter than the Oxford oiglil, v clmnpto from the very heavy criWK whidh tho light Blues had been üblo to put on the', river immediately after lho war. The crew has beun naid to lift weak in tho centre of tho boat, whero moro nubility wus required, but it liaa been difficult to secure this objeoUvo.

Tho Cambridge crew for to-day is expeeled to be as follow*:— C. K. M. ISley (Eton and Third Trinity), J. S. lfcrberr"(Eton"aod"KlngvsT.'"No."2 1115 J. A. M'Nabb (Eton and Third Trinity), No. a jj.g 1.. Elliott-Smith (York and-.Lady Margaret),. No. I ..; i ; 13.2 V. 11. F. Toph.-.n (Afalvern and Pembroke), No. 5 13.t T. D. A. Collet (Oundle and Pembroke)^ JR. E. Morrison'CEton'iindThird'TrVnity'Ji No 7 ( ■ 12.0 A. B. Stobart (Dartmouth an* Pembroke), stroke :.........! :....11.12 G. A. Brown (Ciirton arid Caius) cox ...... 7.7 Average weight, list BJ]b. A. >B. Stobart, who is rowing stroke,' has been regularly in that position since

the crew started practice, early in J*aniiary, and is president! of the boat. He stroked'the "Head of the .River" crew last May, and the '-winning trial eight last December. ■■••.■• Most of ■(. the crew men of whom but. little is known in New, Zealand, and only two are old Blues—Collet and Morrison; A settled" order was denied the crew until March,- when a definite selection was made,'and since then the progress has been steady and, sure. Iheir total weight is,' less by at least eight 'pounds 'than that of : Oxford, arid the absence of Playford from the centre of the boat liaß been deplored by most of the English critics. : The lightest man in the crew whs expected to be C. R.M. Eley, -rowing at bow. 'He 'has been tried ,in all.;' positions on the bow side, except at No. 5, an indication that the selectors were impressed with his ability, and worn- determined 'to keep him in the,boat if possible. . The coaching of the Cambridge crowright through has been carried out by Colonel Wauchope, -who lias' .been assisted by' the, Rev. ,Q. A. Skinner, Tan old Blue, and ,the Rev. S. E. Swarm, who rowed in the Cambridge crew in 1883, 1884, and 1885. ■ ' "Whatever may be the result of to-day's race it is certain that,both Screws will reach the course in the pink of condition, and-that both will strive to the utmost to secure victory in this most coveted event, which; in addition to being a great athletic contest, has a sentimental association the world over. ; .' ''. ' PAST RACE.S. ;•\-.! -. ' . To-day's race,, which may, rightly be termed the 'rhbst important- annual fixture in the rowing .worlds is each year witnessed .by : an increasing of enthusiasts, who line: the -fianks of the river sporting the colours of'their lavounte crew. .I'he first race, in 1829 was rowed at Heiiley; from 1836 to 1839 and from' 1840 to 18*2. the.course was from Westminster .to Putney-; and in 1846 1356, and 1863 the -course was from Mortlake to Putney; the races in all other years not mentioned have been rowed from Putney1 to Mortlake the course which is being.used to-day. The first race to be rqwe.d.in outr.ig<*ers was that of 1846, but the present style of eights, without keels, were not used until ,MB?Z;,^ lidi ng, seats were not adopted until 1873, and the present Ayle of rOund oars was! adopted by both crows in 1857 There have been 75 races''all told since tie inception of the event in 1829, with the following results:

ITiore havo been, many sensational happenings uuring the course of this great niinual inter-; Varsity contest, but none have been more, provocative of diecue?ion than the events of the race of 1912 when both boats sank. Oxford managed to re-embark and comjUotMi tho course, but the umpire decided it wag no race. Oxford, however, wtre successful a couple of days later, winning by Ihree lengths and a lit 1 .I 77 th,° raco re3ulted in * dead-heat, the only occasion on which such a happening has been recorded, and, during the race, Oxford's bow wa i unfortunate in damaging his oar. In 1887 Oxford were again unfortunate, No. 7 breaking hia oar, and Cambridge winning by only three lengths and I half. ihe fastest time yet recorded over the present course was in 1911, when Ox, ford won by nearly three lengths in the phenomenal tune of 18mm 29sec

Year. .Winner. ■■ , „ ™?" JS29-Oxford ]4 " .,„ 183«-Cambridge .... " '" • ifi n 1829-Cambridge ...... V"" . 31 X JS40-Cambndge . '" or,.,,, ■ 1841—Cambridge •... ,.,,„ 1842-Oxford ht\ «■<;>—Cambridge » &> 3n - 1846-Cambridgo ... " % f s 1849—Cambridge < ■ "■■ " "o« n ° ' 1849-Oxford ....•....■.■.'."".■.'.■.■■"■ — _ 1S52—Oxford 01 o« 1854-Oxford ■" i\ n 1856-Cambridge ..Z'"""'" 26 50 1857-Oxford ....;.... "" $ « I85S—Cambridge ' " 21 »q 1859-Oxford ..: I;'" 2 4 Jo 18OT-Cambridge .- ...._ '" 26 1" 1801-Oxford '" 03 ?n 1862-Oxford ./. '"' 21 41 ■ 1803-oxford ;.::;;■;- gj l 1SC4—Oxford 21 4(1 MoS-Oxford . of 24 :866-Oxford ., '■"•" w it is67-oxford ......,..;....::::":: 2 2« ISfiS—Oxford i on s« 3809-O.xford . I; 20 T • 1870-CambridgB .....V....""" 22 4 3871-Cambridge ' 23 5 ' 1872—Cambridge ...; 21 15 3873-Cainbridge ' ..'. ij 35 1S74—Cambridge 09 52 1875—Oxforll . .. .""i '222 1870—Cambridge ■ ;"".'" 20 20 1877—Ox.-Camb, (dead heat) •>* "8 3S7S—Oxford ■ 2*> li 1879—Cambridge ....' "' 21 18 ■7880—Oxford ... 21 2? "■ " issi-oxford :.::;;:::"■ 2 i »i ■■ 18S2—Oxford 20 12 i 1883-Oxford 2 1 8 ■ 1SS4—Cambridge 21 39 , 18S5-Oxford • :....:.....;:; 21 30 1886-^CambridRe - 2-' 201 1887—Cambridge .....„■... 20 52* 1SSS—Cambridge 20 48 1889^-Cambridgo "20 U ' 1890-Oxford 22 3 - , 1891—Oxford 21 48 1892—Oxford •. 19 21 1893-Oxford ...; 18 45-1891-Oxford :.......... • 21 35 1895—Oxford ...-. "0 50 1S9S—Oxford 20]. 1897—Oxford 19 12 • ]K>8—Oxford 22 15 IMO-Cambridse 214-lMt^-Cambridgs 18 45 1BD1—Oxford ....: .T'22 31 '■ ■ 1902—^Cambridge 19 9 .

.1003 —Cambridge to <jol 3004—Cambridge ' ii tr 1005-Oxfon! ZZ'.Z'.Z 20 35 3006—Cambridge . iq us- ]%-%™™«*> ■■■■■■■"■■■■■■ » M mn-Oxforrt jg ig 3BI2-Oxfor<l iS , ]«a-Oxford ■"." 20 n iS!tTSS rldA° ■••'•■•-■:::;:: *> 23 'orcatVa*" 18 l° 1020— CambrkliM 21 11 1923-Oxford ?<