A Guide To The Oxford And Cambridge University
Boat Race
Author: John Rivers

I have been fascinated with the annual Boat Race between Oxford
and Cambridge University for as long as I can remember. I didn't
attend any of these top two British Universities, nor do I have
an avid enthusiasm for rowing but this traditional race of the
two boats over exactly 4 miles and 374 yards still holds a
fascination for me. I am not alone as the televised event is
broadcast, from the historic River Thames, to hundreds of
countries and has an audience of millions. The idea for the
boat race between these paragons of academia was dreamt up by
two students, both named Charles, funnily enough. Charles
Merivale was at Cambridge University and Charles Wordsworth was
at Oxford.

Cambridge issued their challenge to Oxford on March 12th 1829.
Ever since then, it has been a tradition for the loser of a
year's race to challenge the other boat to a rematch the
following year.

On 10th June 1829, thousands of enthusiastic people descended
on the small town of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. They were
there to witness the first ever staging of the Boat Race between
Oxford and Cambridge's best rowing teams. In a rather
embarrassing turn of events the race had to be stopped shortly
after both boats had begun to be rowed. It was restarted and
Oxford was the winner of the first boat race against Cambridge.


One thing that I didn't realise about the Boat Race until
fairly recently was that the members of both crews do not get
any special dispensation as far as their studies go. If they
can't keep up with their academic commitments then the students
must resign from that year's boat squad.

The Boat Race is on a Sunday in March or April and the main
event is preceded by a competition between Isis and Goldie.
These are the reserve boats for Oxford and Cambridge in that
order. About half an hour later the Blue Boats, as the first
teams of each University are known, takes place. Cambridge is
light blue and Oxford dark blue.


About The Author: John Rivers is the owner of The Boat Blog. On
his blog you will find resources, tips, and advice on boating.
For all interested in sailing, yachting and boating
http://www.theboatsblog.com