The very first University Boat Race took place in 1829. It was started by two friends who had both been at the prestigious Harrow school but then one went to Oxford and one to Cambridge. They met up one day rowing at Cambridge and decided on the race.
On the 10th of February 1829, a letter was sent from Cambridge stating that “the University of Cambridge hereby challenge the University of Oxford to row a match at or near London, each in an eight-oared boat during the ensuing Easter vacation.”
And ever since, except for the war years, and in 2020 due to Covid, they have raced sometime around Easter, depending on the tides. . It's 4.25 miles of very hard rowing.
In 1877 the race ended in a dead heat and the closest finish was in 2003 when Oxford won by 1 foot. The number of wins stands at Cambridge 88 and Oxford 81. There have been several sinkings and protesters disrupted the race in 2012.
The first women's race was in 1927 and annually since 1964 and was originally on a different day to the men's race but has been on the same day since 2015.
The race was first broadcast on BBC radio in 1927 and was televised for the first time in 1938. After almost 100 years the BBC lost it's right to show it. So today it's on Channel 4. I just hope they don't stop for adverts in the middle of the race!
With Suffolk being next door to Cambridgeshire that's who I've been supporting for the last umpteen years, it was always something we watched as I was growing up and will watch this year too.
Coverage on C4 begins with the build up at 1.30 and race start timings are.............
- 2:21pm – Women's Boat Race.
- 2:36pm – Women's Reserve Boat Race.
- 2:51pm – Men's Reserve Boat Race.
- 3:21pm – Men's Boat Race.
Have a good weekend, mine will be very quiet one on my own. I don't have Easter eggs but made scones and bought clotted cream for my Easter treat- with the 'compost jelly' made last month - all very yummy!
Who needs to spend £s on Easter eggs!
