THE BOAT RACE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1930, Page 6

THE BOAT RACE

HOW CAMBRIDGE WON

OXFORD'S LONG-HELD LEAD

A THRILLING DUEL

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON", 15th April.

Cambridge beat Oxford by two lengths in the University boat race on Saturday, and thus, for the first time silice ISG3, takes the lead in the number of victories to the credit of each university. Cambridge lias now won forty-ono limes and Oxford forty, one raco having ended in a de-ad-heat. Cambridge has won seven races in succession. Tho names and weights of the crews were: — OXFORD. St lb M. J. Waterhouso (Eton and Balliol) (bow). 12 8 2. 11. V. Low (Winchester and University College) 12 2f 3. N. K. Hutton (Fettes and University College) 12 11 4. C. M. Johnston (Shrewsbury and Bniseiiose) .. 12 11 5 *H R. A. Edwards (Westminster and Christ Church) 13 0 6 L. Clive (Eton and Christ Chuicli) 13 Oi 7.*D:-.E. Tirine (Eton and TJni-. versity College) '.:. 12 1 C. F. Martineau (Harrow and University College) (stroke) 10 13 11. A. C. Durbridge (Malvern and University College) (cox) 8 11 CAMBKIDGE, D. Haig Thomas (Eton and Lady Margaret) (bow) .11 4 2. H. E. N. Rickeitt (Eton and ' Third Trinity)" 12 6 3. .W. A. Prideaux (Eton and Third Trinity) '' •12 6 4. p. N. Carpmacl (Oundle and Jesus) 12 7 D.*M. 11. Warriner (Harrow and First Trinity) 13 10 6.* J. B. Collins (Eton and Third Trinity) 14 5 7. A. S. JJeeve (Brighton and Selwyn) •12 2 *T. A. Broe.kelbank (Eton and Third Trinity) (stroke) 11 .11* R. E. S.vartwout (Middle- . sex, U.S.A. and First Trin!ity) (cox) 7 8 *Old Blues. _ , Tho opinion generally expressed _is that it was the finest boat race since 1921, and one of the largest crowds over witnessed on the tow path. BROADCAST COMMENTARY. As in previous years, a running commentary on the race was broadcast by Mr' G O. Nickalls, the former Oxford Blue, and Mr. J. C. Squire from the launch Magician, which followed the crews ' During the 10 minutes before the start the commentators described the crowd on the bank as being bigger than in previous years, in spite of the relatively early hour at which the.race was rowed. Oxford favours were also said to predominate. A heavy storm of rain began almost immediately alter the start, and the launch rocked violent-, ly but only at one point about haltway through the broadcast was the speech in any way markedly distorted. At the end of the broadcast the commentators admitted they were drenched. Gramoi. one records of the actual broadcast account of the boat race were made, and 'tho account was then rebroadcast on Saturday evening from the National station. Unfortunately the weather was showery, and rain was falling slightly as the crews paddled to, the stake-boats moored opposite the University btone at Putney. Oxford won the toss, and elected to take the Surrey station. As challengers, they were the first to got afloat, to be followed a few minutes afterwards by Cambridge. There was a south-westerly breeze blowing,: and the crews had a following wind almost to Harrods. Above HammeVsnuth and in tho Corney Reach', however, it was nearly dead ahead, and there was much bad water above Hammersmith. A GOOD START. , Very little time was wasted in the preliminaries, and Lieut.-Colonel C. D. Burnell, D.5.0., the old Oxford Blue, who acted as umpire and starter, got the crews away to a good start. Oxford took the lead in the first two strokes, Martineau making a brilliant start. He ■ rowed 10-19-37 in the first quarter, haif, and. full minute, to 10-181-35 by Br'ocklebaiik. At the. end of a mmuto Oxford led by a third of a length, m tho, second minute both- crews rowed 33, and they were practically rowing stroke for stroke. Oxford, however, were longer, and at the end, of the second minute had increased their lead to half a length., >,' . _ At Craven Steps, reached in 2mm 13 sec, Oxford led still by half a length, but Broeklbbank gave bis crew a "ten" opposite the Fulham Football Ground, and the Light Blues drew level. It was in this' vicinity that the races in the two previous years had been won and lost, and when Cambridge drew level one wondered if history was going to repeat itself., Cambridge, however, could only get a lead of a few feet; and when their effort died down Martineau replied for . Oxford, and the crews passed the mile post level in tho fast time of 4min. This time equalled tho previous best Oxford time, made by R. C. Bourne's crew in 1911, but was Bsec slower than the record of 3 mm 52sec made by W. Dudley" Ward's Cambridge crew .in 1900. A HEAD WIND. Above tho Ship Brocklebank had another freshener to feel the pace of his rivals, but found he could do nothing, and Oxford were two-thirds of a length ahead 'when the crews met the full force of the wind. ;At Chiswick Eybt their lead was three-quarters of a length, and the question was whether they could get another length before the, cross-over. Brocklebank was beginning to look a littlo worried, for Cambridge had been forced into atrocious water. At the bottom of the lSyot he. had spurted for five strokes,' and then thought the better of it, and ,iust before Chiswick Steps the crew had one really bad lurch, and it looked for a moment ue if they would crack. Tho same series i of waves, however, upset Oxford just when they looked as if they might go away. Although Cambridge -were down to 28 Oxford never got below 30. At Chiswick Stops, reached in llmhi 36scc, Oxford were still' only'hali a length ahead. BACK IN CALM WATER. Once into the calm water Brocklebank quickened to 31, and the crew, rowing with great length and determination for one which had been so badly battered, quickly closed up the gap. All along Duke's Meadows the crews raced stroke for stroke, though it was plain Brocklebank had the pace of his rivals, and it was right opposite the Cambridge enclosure that be first drove his crew into the lead. Even so, Martineau did not crack. Some of his men were exhausted, notably Clive, the Freshman at No. G, who had rowed a heroic race to this point, but he still kept them steady, his only chance in the face of all temptations. At the end of Duke'S Meadows it was' plain that Brocklebank had won his race. Collins was rowing powerfully, and the crew forged ahead rapidly, to shoot Burnes Bridge one length

alieau in the time of 15min 52scc, which made those who had seen tho rough water look again at their watches. Immediate]}' after tho bridge Cambridge got clear, and Durbridgc, still steering the most mustorly course, dropped in half behind them. For tho first time in the race Cambridge, at 32, were rowing a faster stroke than Oxford, at 31. And this, too, in some inexplicably bumpy water. In the second minute past Barnes Cambridge gained the best part of another length, but when rowing in they became a trifle short, and, although they rowed 34 to the 32 of their rivals in the la., minute, they did not gain anything more than Oxford, which, howover tired the men were, Martineau kept steady and long to the last. Cambridge passed the winning post two lengths ahead hi 19min 9see. A GREAT RACING STROKL. Cambridge's victory (writes a rowing correspondent) wag duo largely to their greater experience and to the fact that they possessed a great racing stroke in Brocklebank. Tho old Etonian refused to bo flurried throughout the race, and never once let his rivals get beyond his reach. He judged tho capabilities of his own crew and also of his opponents to a nicety, so that when he made his special effort along Duke's Meadows, ho quickly had the satisfaction of seeing Oxford come back to him one by one. Once he had forged ahead he did not let his crew slacken in their efforts, but drove them hard over the last half-mile. Collins, Warriner, and Carpinael backed up Brocklebank splendidly, whilst the other members of the crew, although less, effective,-all played their part. OXFORD'S FIGHTING SPIRIT. In the Oxford crew, Martineau deserves very high praise for the fine way in which he stroked the crew. Martineau was in his right place. He proved in the Trial Bights at Henley last December that ho possessed the fighting spirit, and he improved upon his performance on Saturday. Few of ths critics expected Oxford to make such a fine race of it. It was thought they might press their opponents to Hammersmith, but it was not expected that they would lead for three miles. In their second trial row over the course during practice Oxford met with a head wind and rough water above Hammersmith, and although they had been faster than Cambridge to Hammersmith, they then lost ground in the rough water, and the same thing, happened on Saturday. Oxford's fight will long be remembered, and the crew have no reason to feel despondent over the result, for all did their very best.