Jump to content

The Boat Race 2003

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Aloneinthewild (talk | contribs) at 13:05, 11 May 2014 (+good article and crew link). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

149th Boat Race
Date6 April 2003 (2003-04-06)
WinnerOxford
Margin of victory1 foot
Winning time18 minutes 6 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)		77–71
UmpireBoris Rankov[1]
(Oxford)
Other races
Reserve winnerGoldie
Women's winnerOxford
← 2002 2004 →

The 149th Boat Race took place on 6 April 2003, and was sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management. Oxford won the race by one foot, the smallest margin of victory in the history of the race. The race also featured two sets of brothers, both on opposing sides, for the first time.

In the reserve race Goldie beat Isis and Oxford won the Women's race.

Background

The Boat Race is an annual competition between Oxford University and Cambridge University. First held in 1829, the competition is a 4.2 miles (6.8 km) race along the River Thames in southwest London. The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide.[2] Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 2002 race by three-quarters of a length,[3] but Cambridge led overall with 77 victories to Oxford's 70 (excluding the "dead heat to Oxford by five feet" of 1877).[4][5] The race was sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management for the fourth consecutive year.[6] It was the first race to be scheduled to take place on a Sunday.[5]

Crews

Blades from both boats come into close contact. Left to right: Coventry (Cantab.), B. Smith (Cantab.), Nethercott (Oxon.), M. Smith (Oxon.)

The Cambridge crew (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues")[6] had a 7 kilograms (15 lb) per crew member advantage;[7] the Oxford crew (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")[6] were considered "underdogs" for the race.[8] The Cambridge crew had an average age of 23 while Oxford's crew averaged 21. The Oxford crew featured seven Britons, an Australian and a Canadian while the Cambridge crew consisted of four Britons, two Americans, two Germans and an Australian.[9][10]

Seat Oxford
Cambridge
File:University of Cambridge coat of arms official.svg
Name Nationality Age Name Nationality Age
Bow John Adams British 20 Ben Smith‡ British 19
2 Basil Dixon British 21 Kristopher Coventry Australian 25
3 Samuel McLennan Australian 23 Hugo Mallinson American 23
4 David Livingston British 19 Matthias Kleinz German 27
5 Robin Bourne-Taylor British 21 Alexander McGarel-Groves British 22
6 Scott Frandsen Canadian 22 Tom James British 19
7 Henry Morris British 20 James Livingston British 22
Stroke Matthew Smith British 20 Tim Wooge German 30
Cox Acer Nethercott British 25 James Omartian American 23

‡ Wayne Pommen, the first-choice Cambridge bow-man, was injured two days before the race and replaced by Ben Smith, brother of the Oxford stroke Matthew.[11]

Race description

The Oxford boat (rowers in dark blue) holds a narrow lead as the crews approach Barnes Bridge

Cambridge won the coin toss and elected to start from the southern bank (the "Surrey side") of the Thames.[12] At race time, conditions were overcast and breezy.[13]

Oxford took an early lead with a slightly higher stroke rate than Cambridge as both coxes were warned by the umpire to avoid a clash. Five minutes into the race, Oxford, with a third of a length lead, were warned again by the umpire and moved away from the racing line, allowing Cambridge to take the lead at Hammersmith Bridge. Oxford continued to stay in touch with Cambridge towards the Chiswick Steps and retook the lead on the approach to Barnes Bridge. With a three-quarter length lead at Barnes, Oxford began to weaken and Cambridge recovered to a third of a length. With every stroke, the Cambridge boat gained on Oxford, but Oxford passed the finishing post 1 foot (30 cm) ahead. The result was the closest in the history of the race.[13][14]

Oxford finished with a time of 18 minutes, 6 seconds.[12] It was their third victory in the previous four years and brought the overall result to 77–71 in Cambridge's favour.[3] At the finish, following tradition, the Oxford crew threw their cox, Acer Nethercott, into the water in celebration.[15]

In the reserve race, Cambridge's Goldie beat Oxford's Isis.[13] Earlier, Oxford won the 58th women's race by three-and-a-half lengths.[16]

Reaction

Oxford University Boat Club President and stroke Matthew Smith said "It feels fantastic and I think it will take a while to top this feeling".[17] Cambridge oarsman James Livingston remarked "It was the worst margin to lose by. I just wish I could stop losing these epic races" while Cambridge coach Robin Williams described the defeat as a "blow to the heart".[17]

Five-time Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave commented on the race: "Remember that race and cling on to the memory, because it will be the greatest we will see in any of our lifetimes."[18] An estimated 400 million people worldwide watched the event on television.[18] It was watched by 5.06 million viewers on BBC One.[19] The race is retold in the book Blood Over Water, authored by opposing brothers James and David Livingston.[20]

References

  1. ^ Davies, Gareth A. (27 March 2009). "60 Second Interview: Boris Rankov, Boat Race Umpire". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Boat Race – Results". theboatrace.org. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Oxford clinch Boat Race". BBC Sport. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". theboatrace.org. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Crews weigh in". BBC Sport. 1 April 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  8. ^ Simon, Nik (31 March 2013). "Rowing: Acer in the pack inspires Oxford's Boat Race crew". The Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Meet the Oxford University team". BBC Sport. 31 March 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  10. ^ "Meet the Cambridge University team". BBC Sport. 31 March 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  11. ^ "Cambridge lose bowman". The Daily Telegraph. 5 April 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Oxford win Boat Race". BBC Sport. 12 April 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "The Boat Race: as it happened". BBC Sport. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  14. ^ "Classic moments – The closest race". theboatrace.org. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  15. ^ "The victorious Oxford Cox Acer Nethercott is thrown in the Thames in traditional manner..." Getty Images. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  16. ^ "Women's Boat Race – results". theboatrace.org. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Mixed emotions for brothers". BBC Sport. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  18. ^ a b Weaver, Paul (7 April 2003). "Oxford overcome weight of history – by 12 inches". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  19. ^ "Close finish puts smile on the old boat race". Broadcast. 30 April 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2014. (subscription required)
  20. ^ "Blood Over Water". British Rowing. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Boat_Race_2003&oldid=608049130"