The Boat Race 1878

The 35th Boat Race took place on 13 April 1878. The Boat Race is an annual side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. In total, ten former Blues took part in the contest. The race was umpired by former rower Joseph William Chitty and Oxford won by a margin of 10 lengths in a time of 22 minutes 15 seconds. The victory took the overall record to 1816 in Oxford's favour.

35th Boat Race
Date13 April 1878 (1878-04-13)
WinnerOxford
Margin of victory10 lengths
Winning time22 minutes 15 seconds
Overall record
(CambridgeOxford)
1618
UmpireJoseph William Chitty
(Oxford)

Background

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")[1] and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues").[1] First held in 1829, the race takes place on the 4.2 miles (6.8 km) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London.[2] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities; it is followed throughout the United Kingdom and as of 2014, broadcast worldwide.[3][4] Neither crew went into the race as reigning champions the previous year's race had been declared a "dead heat". However Oxford held the overall lead, with 17 victories to Cambridge's 16.[5]

Cambridge's coach was James Brooks Close (who rowed for the Light Blues in the 1872, 1873 and 1874 races).[6] Oxford were coached by William Grenfell (who had rowed for the Dark Blues the previous year and was rowing at number four in 1878), A. J. Mulholland (who rowed in 1877) and Edmund Warre (who represented the Oxford in the 1857 and the 1858 races).[7][8]

The race was umpired by Joseph William Chitty who had rowed for Oxford twice in 1849 (in the March and December races) and the 1852 race, while the starter was Edward Searle and the finishing judge was E. H. Fairrie.[9]

Crews

The Oxford crew weighed an average of 12 st 3.675 lb (77.7 kg), 6.875 pounds (3.1 kg) more than their opponents.[10] Cambridge saw four former Blues return, including the cox George Latham Davies who was taking part in his fourth consecutive Boat Race. Oxford's crew included six individuals with experience of the race, with boat club president Tom Edwards-Moss making his fourth appearance in the event.[10] Drinkwater suggested that the Oxford crew was the "best ... up to that date".[11]

Charles Gurdon (left), Cambridge University Boat Club president at the time, rowed at number six for Cambridge, while William Grenfell (right) occupied the four seat for Oxford.
Seat Oxford
Cambridge
Name College Weight Name College Weight
BowW. A. EllisonUniversity10 st 13 lbLl. R. JonesJesus10 st 9 lb
2D. J. CowlesSt John's11 st 5 lbJ. A. Watson-TaylorMagdalene11 st 9.75 lb
3H. B. SouthwellPembroke12 st 8.5 lbT. W. Barker1st Trinity12 st 6 lb
4W. H. GrenfellBalliol12 st 10.5 lbR. J. SpurrellTrinity Hall11 st 13.5 lb
5H. PelhamMagdalen12 st 11 lbL. G. PikeGonville & Caius12 st 8.5 lb
6G. F. BurgessKeble13 st 3.5 lbC. Gurdon (P)Jesus12 st 10.5 lb
7T. C. Edwards-Moss (P)Brasenose12 st 3 lbT. E. HockinJesus12 st 4.5 lb
StrokeH. P. MarriottBrasenose12 st 2.5 lbE. H. PrestJesus10 st 12.75 lb
CoxF. M. BeaumontNew College7 st 0.5 lbG. L. DavisClare7 st 5 lb
Source:[10]
(P) boat club president[12]

Race

The Championship Course, along which the race is conducted

Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge. The race commenced at 10.15 a.m. Out-rating Oxford by four strokes per minute, Cambridge took an early lead and were half a length ahead after the first minute. They held the lead round the bend which favoured them but as the river curved to favour Oxford, the Dark Blues quickly overtook, even with the slower stroke rate. They were at least half-a-length clear at the Crab Tree pub which they had extended to four lengths by Hammersmith Bridge.[11] Oxford won by 40 seconds (approximately 10 lengths) in a time of 22 minutes and 15 seconds, their second victory in nine years, which took the overall record to 1816 in their favour.[5][10]

References

Notes

  1. "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  2. Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  3. "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  4. "TV and radio". The Boat Race Company Limited. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  5. "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  6. Burnell, p. 104
  7. Burnell, pp. 101102
  8. Burnell, pp. 110111
  9. Burnell, pp. 49, 97
  10. Burnell, p. 61
  11. Drinkwater, p. 73
  12. Burnell, pp. 5051

Bibliography

  • Burnell, Richard (1979). One Hundred and Fifty Years of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Precision Press. ISBN 0950063878.
  • Drinkwater, G. C.; Sanders, T. R. B. (1929). The University Boat Race Official Centenary History. Cassell & Company, Ltd.
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