Cambridge-Oxford Boat Race And Its World-Wide Interest

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1935, Page 12

Cambridge-Oxford Boat Race And Its World-Wide Interest

PROBABLY in common with many another man who has tasted not the Pierian spring of learning at either Oxford University or Cambridge, I sometimes wondered, in my callow days, why the annual Boat Race between the selected eights of these universities arouses great interest in the civilised world. I could understand why a race Which dates back to 1829 should have its interest for successive generations of students at the two universities, and for their kindred, but not why it should excite so much attention among many thousands of people who never have seen stich a race rowed. But the passing years have brought to me a greater appreciation of the significance of the Boat Race, especially since I read some remarks on the subject by Sir Theodore A. Cook, a brilliant scholar and athlete, who rowed in the Oxford eight in 1889.

& 7V *Jr In his autobiography, published about 10 years ago, Sir Theodore Cook, explaining his reproduction, in that volume, of a photograph of the crew of Which he was a member, wrote:— But there would be something deeper in this picture even if it only preserved one crew out of the many Boat Races Which are enthusiastically welcomed every year by Londoners who do not know a single man frdm either university, or one end of a light boat from another. They cbme to look at it, whichever is likely to win, because they realise that this is almost the only sporting event in which all 16 men will do their best from start to finish, without much caring for the result, and without earing at all what the public thinks. It is rapidly becoming the only event in Our Gargantuan calendar of annual sport which is indepedent of gate-money and never gets any, and therefore can be carried out precisely as the competitors desire, without reference . to. anybody else and without fear of any public criticism; for the University Boat Race is a private match made by thfe president of one university boat club with the president of the other, under the conditions on which those presidents have themselves agreed. The public, grumble

as it invariably will at any spectacle to which it is only admitted upon payment, appreciates the* independence of the crews as much as it enjoys the unaccustomed Space of some seven miles of free seats between Putney and Mortlake. And spectators always enjoy a fair fight, with no favour, between opponents who have gone through some eight weeks of voluntary hardship to prepare themselves for 20 minutes’ racing. That is one reason why the Boat Race remains an enormously popular event without doing the least harm to the best spirit of amateur sport which it has so long exemplified. *■# ’ w

Sir Theodore Cook’s remarks explain very well the fascination of the race for Londoners in particular—a fascin-

AMATEUR SPIRIT OF EVENTS APPEALS TO VERY MANY PEOPLE

ation increased by the fact that they do not have to pay for a glimpse of this race over four miles and a-quarter of the Thames waterway: the allusion to seven miles of free seats between Putney and Mortlake is to areas on both sides of the river. The key to the wider interest in the race probably is a double one—the essence of amateur sport Which the event typifies, and the long acceptance of the race as an institution in British sport. The importance of its influence on standards and styles in rowing has decreased witn the waxing in number and importance of the tidewater clubs in and around London and of various regattas at which there is much eight-oar rowing. The presence of oarsmen from the Dominions in the university crews from time to time has helped to retain the wide interest in the race. Yet there still remains something elusive m the reasons why this particular event arouses so much attention throughout the British Empire, and even in the rowing districts of the United States and other countries. I asked a friend, the other day, when he mentioned the race why he was so keen to know the resuit, and after some moments of thought his only answer was: “Oh, well, it is quite an institution, you know, and one always likes to know who wins these big events.”

In the ultimate analysis, though, the Boat Race is no more than a private match between the presidents of the boating clubs of the two universities, although the two clubs did not exist when the first race in the series was rowed. Cambridge University did have a boat club in 1829, and in February of that year its secretary was instructed to try to arrange a match with Oxford. The race was rowed in June, but thereafter the event was held only intermittently until 1856, although the Oxford University Boat Club had been formed in 1839. After the first race, the custom of arranging it as a private match between the presidents of the two clubs seems to have prevailed. These officers are active oarsmen, elected annually, and as a rule they are members of the competing crews, although, because df injuries, neither of the men holding that office at the present time is able to row in this year’s race. The presidents select the crews, but they are, of course, guided by the coaches on points about Which they are doubtful. Originally, the representatives of university rowing paid the expenses of the race. The increased cost of materials and of the more elaborate training indulged in made the expenses too high for private purses, though, and for a long time they have been met from a common fund

provided by the colleges, according to certain percentages. * * *

It might have been noticed that Sir Theodore Cook referred to a preparation of eight weeks of voluntary hardship for 20 minutes of racing. The allusion was to the final part of the training for the race. Actually, the preparations begin, in one form, before the end of the preceding summer in England. The trials for the race which was rowed this year on April 6, began last October, and they gradually eliminated the weaker oarsmen until two trial eights from which the final selection was made emerged. The spirit and the enthusiasm of the men who, having come through a long series of trials, then undergo two months of arduous training are indeed to be commended. Thus is the appeal of the Boat Race to all sportsmen increased. This year there was even more interest than usual in the event, not only because Oxford rowing tried to be more, up-to-date in methods, but also because, in the true spirit of sport, two successful Cambridge coaches had been coaching the Oxford eight. Cambridge has now won the race for 12 consecutive years, and 15 times out of 16 since the Great War. The result was of less importance to the Cambridge coaches who have been assisting Oxford this year than was the hope that Oxford would return to such a position in university rowing that it could again give Cambridge a very hard fight, with no favour. But it is evident that Oxford must do further overhauling of its rowing methods before it can attain that position. A. L. C.