THE BOAT RACE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 22 March 1929, Page 11

THE BOAT RACE

RIVAL BLUES

THIS YEAR'S STRUGGLE

UNIVERSAL INTEREST

The annual eight-oared race between crows representing the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge is counted as ono of the world's athletic classics. No event of its kind commands the amount of attention which this rate docs, and it is not oiily the British Empire which takes a keen interest in tho struggle for supremacy fought out between two rival crews which aro tho pick of Britain 's young manhood. There is no need to have been resident at either of tho two great Universities to feel an interest in tho race, for it is looked upon as a national event of a sportloving community. Victory in the race is not everything: it is the effort that counts, and that is precisely why tho Boat Knee holds tho position which it does in tho affections of the public. International football matches, the Grand National, and similar sporting events are affairs for adults. But the Boat Eacc,. which annually divides tho schools "and homes of England into rival camps of light or dark blue, makes everyone feel young. The Boat Eaco is essentially an English institution, and will survivo in popular esteem as long as England preserves her national identity.

It is-amazing for anyone- not conversant with England to note the interest which all classes of the community take in the Boat Eace. During tho period of tho training of the crews for one of tho most gruelling tests to which athletes can be put, tho chances of the rival colours are discussed and discussed again. Early on the morning of tho race crowds wend their way along tho tow-path in order to make sure of their favourite positions. And the Boat Race crowd lining the banks and the bridges never varies: it is always large, always good humoured, and always colour bedecked. There is never any real need for the mounted police,who are always there- in numbers, ■ for a more orderly crowd could not be imagined. Ono can only wonder how it is that so many thousands upon thousands of people can get away from their work for the occasion, for no matter what day of tho week or what timo of the day the race is rowed (this latter depending on the tides) tho crowd is always there. Every vantage point is crammed to its utmost capacity, and partisans!)ip is rife, the two shades of blue flaunting themselves and taunting tho other on all possible occasions. Years are forgotten for a i'cw hours, and the mature become juvenile for the occasion. ANIMATED SCENES^ Picturesque and animated as tho scene is on tho banks, tho sombre Thames itself takes on a brightened hue' for tho occasion. Corpulent tugs with strings of barges in their wake hush their busy goings, and launches take their place, darting hither and thither as they gradually make their way to the sides of the river. When the time for tho race draws near, water, unruffled save for whatever wind there may be, awaits the straining crows. A strange hush falls on tho crowd, and then up tho river iv swelling volume travels- a roar of encouragement from thousands of throats, for the race has started. Most of tho spectators soo but a fraction of tho race, gaining but a brief glimpse of what is perhaps the niost graceful of all athletic contests. But they are satisfied, and when the race has gone by pandemonium breaks out again as the news as to who has won travels down the river. Once again the river seethes with moving craft of all sorts, launches which have been moored along the course flurrying hither and thither. '

The finale comes that night in London, proceedings nearly always terminating in "rags" in which undergraduates from both the victorious and the defeated university find outlets for their ebullient spirits, spirits which sometimes clash with the tolerance of the London policeman, but it is the time-honoured finale to tho day of days in the life of the university undergraduate. MANY EPIC STRUGGLES. This year's race, .to be rowed at the week-end, will bo tho 81st occasion upon which tho two great universities of Oxford and Cambridge have met in an eight-oared contest. As Oxford have won the raco 40 times and Gambridgo 39 (thero having been one dead-heat), the latter will be making a specially keen endeavour to draw level with their rivals. But Oxford, on tho other hand, will be making an equally, keen effort to put an end to Cambridge's long sequel of victories, for only once since the Great War (in 1923) havo the Dark Blues triumphed. Victories in these races,' however, often seem to run in cycles, and there is no foundation for the suggestion that rowing at Oxford has deteriorated.

The first eight-oared r;ico between Oxford and Cambridgo was rowed in 1829, but it was not until a few years later that such a race became an annual event. For many years now tho course has always been the same, from Putney to Mortlakc, tho exact distance being •Jt miles 1 furlong 180 yards. The first race rowed with outriggers was in 1-846, but tho present stylo of boat without a keel waa not adapted until 1857, in which year the present stylo of oar was also adopted. Sliding seats did not make their advent until i.873.

There have been many thrilling races, including one dead heat, but none has been so provocative of discussion as that of 1912, when the boats of both crews sank in the rough water. Oxford managed to re-embark aud to row over the course, but the umpire decided "no race." But two days later the race was rowed again, victory resting with Oxford. The fastest timo recorded for tho courso is 18 minutes 29 seconds, which record stands to tho credit of Oxford in 1911. Only on four occasions has the time recorded been under 19 minutes, tides and winds being important factors in tho question of times for the race.

CREWS' ARDUOUS TRAINING. To obtain his rowing "blue" is the bighest ambition of each of the hun(lrcds who tako up rowing when they to Oxford or to Cambridge, but naturally upon only a very small percentage does the honour fall. Tho best aarsmen from each of tho colleges months prior to tho race are given an opportunity to show their worth in tho "trial eights." To get as far as that is an honour in itself, but a relentless process of elimination goes on until Vie final crow with one or two spare Ihen ia chosen. Arduous training on waters gives place to more arduous training on the tidal waters of the Thames, until by the time the great day jjrrives the two crews, barring accident «r illness, are trained to the minute. Experts are generally agreed that the Meal rowing weight is between 11J and 11§ stone, but in recent years there has been a tendency to include several heavy-weights in the crews, and there has beon much discussion as to whether this is good policy. When, a year or >ivo ago, No. 5 in the Oxford' boat stopped rowing before the end of the jwee, rowed out, erifctes of the heavy-

weights said: "I told you so," but there have been heavy crews which have battled to victory against lighter ones, it greatly depending upon the state of the water whether heavyweights tell or not. Every year the Boat Bace provokes controversies amongst oarsmen and amongst those who know little or nought of rowing, and it is well for the sport of rowing that it should bo so; but in the meantime tho Boat Race remains, and may it long remain, the sporting event of tho yeiir for tho British public,