By OISE Oxford tutor Kit Villiers
The 160th University Boat Race takes place on the River Thames in London on 6 April. This rowing race is the oldest annual battle between the students of Oxford and Cambridge, and most probably the oldest rowing fixture in the world; it still runs virtually unchanged from 1829 when the first race took place. England's two famous universities try to compete with each other in every conceivable sport these days from dance to darts, but it is the Boat Race which still captures the public's attention with thousands lining the banks of the river and millions more tuned in to the TV coverage.
Even people who have never been to Oxford or Cambridge shout for their favourite and wave a dark blue flag (Oxford) or a light blue one for 'the other place'. The two crews have become much more professional over the years. More and more postgraduates, some of them international oarsmen, now appear in the two eights and the standard is high. Last year Oxford in training defeated the German Olympic Eight, and this year they have 3 Olympic medal winners on board. Oxford have 4 Britons, 2 Canadians, 2 New Zealanders and 1 American while Cambridge include 4 Americans and a German who is 6' 8'' (about 2 metres).
But equally important in the Boat Race is the smallest man in the boat - the cox. Because the race is over a long (4 and a half miles) and twisty course with complex tides and currents, a good cox is vital to a crew's success. He's important for safety too. 2 years ago, an Australian protester jumped into the chilly Thames and tried to obstruct the race by swimming out in front; luckily he was spotted and quick action prevented an accident, and probably saved his life too - an eight travels very fast, and of course the oarsmen are facing where they've come from and only the cox had a chance of seeing the danger.
So if you are in London on 6 April, go down to the Thames anywhere between Putney and Mortlake and join in the fun. There are plenty of pubs on the route, so after the crews have sped past you can follow the rest on TV. Don't forget your (dark) blue flag though! Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to see a dead heat - for the first time since 1877!
How about the women, do I hear you ask? Well, about half of the students these days are ladies, and the good news is that, starting from next year, there will be a women's Boat Race too, over the same demanding course.
So, good luck to Oxford: they are slightly behind in the overall series, so need another win to catch up.
The 160th University Boat Race takes place on the River Thames in London on 6 April. This rowing race is the oldest annual battle between the students of Oxford and Cambridge, and most probably the oldest rowing fixture in the world; it still runs virtually unchanged from 1829 when the first race took place. England's two famous universities try to compete with each other in every conceivable sport these days from dance to darts, but it is the Boat Race which still captures the public's attention with thousands lining the banks of the river and millions more tuned in to the TV coverage.
Even people who have never been to Oxford or Cambridge shout for their favourite and wave a dark blue flag (Oxford) or a light blue one for 'the other place'. The two crews have become much more professional over the years. More and more postgraduates, some of them international oarsmen, now appear in the two eights and the standard is high. Last year Oxford in training defeated the German Olympic Eight, and this year they have 3 Olympic medal winners on board. Oxford have 4 Britons, 2 Canadians, 2 New Zealanders and 1 American while Cambridge include 4 Americans and a German who is 6' 8'' (about 2 metres).
But equally important in the Boat Race is the smallest man in the boat - the cox. Because the race is over a long (4 and a half miles) and twisty course with complex tides and currents, a good cox is vital to a crew's success. He's important for safety too. 2 years ago, an Australian protester jumped into the chilly Thames and tried to obstruct the race by swimming out in front; luckily he was spotted and quick action prevented an accident, and probably saved his life too - an eight travels very fast, and of course the oarsmen are facing where they've come from and only the cox had a chance of seeing the danger.
So if you are in London on 6 April, go down to the Thames anywhere between Putney and Mortlake and join in the fun. There are plenty of pubs on the route, so after the crews have sped past you can follow the rest on TV. Don't forget your (dark) blue flag though! Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to see a dead heat - for the first time since 1877!
How about the women, do I hear you ask? Well, about half of the students these days are ladies, and the good news is that, starting from next year, there will be a women's Boat Race too, over the same demanding course.
So, good luck to Oxford: they are slightly behind in the overall series, so need another win to catch up.
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