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The Boat Race 2011

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157th Boat Race
Oxford leading Cambridge heading towards the Bandstand
Date26 March 2011
WinnerOxford
Margin of victory4 lengths
Winning time17 minutes 32 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)		80–76
UmpireRob Clegg
Other races
Reserve winnerIsis
Women's winnerOxford
← 2010 2012 →

The 157th Boat Race took place on 26 March 2011. Held annually, the event is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. The race was won by Oxford. Of the eighteen competitors in the race, thirteen were British. The race was sponsored for the second time by Xchanging.

Oxford won the Women's Boat Race by four lengths while Cambridge's Goldie beat Oxford's Isis in the reserve race.

Background

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The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. First held in 1829, the competition is a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) race along The Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London.[1] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide.[2][3] Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 2010 race by 1+1⁄3 lengths,[4] and led overall with 80 victories to Oxford's 75 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).[5] The race was sponsored by Xchanging for the seventh consecutive year,[6] and it was the second time that the title had been given over to sponsorship; as such it was referred to as the "Xchanging Boat Race".[7] The BBC broadcast the event in the United Kingdom, in high-definition for the first time.[8]

The first Women's Boat Race took place in 1927, but did not become an annual fixture until the 1960s. Until 2014, the contest was conducted as part of the Henley Boat Races, but as of the 2015 race, it is held on the River Thames, on the same day as the men's main and reserve races.[9] The reserve race, contested between Oxford's Isis boat and Cambridge's Goldie boat has been held since 1965. It usually takes place on the Tideway, prior to the main Boat Race.[4]

Crews

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The Cambridge crew was "slightly heavier" than their opponents, weighing in at a ceremony at City Hall overseen by Boris Johnson at 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) more per rower than Oxford.[10] Thirteen of the eighteen competitors were British, the highest proportion for a decade.[11] Of the two crews, Cambridge featured three returning Blues to Oxford's one.[12] Oxford University Boat Club's president Ben Myers suggested "we're home-grown guys, we know about the Boat Race and we're keen".[10] Oxford were coached once again by Sean Bowden, who set their boat up as "tandem rigged" (where two consecutive crew row on the same side of the boat), the first time such a configuration had been used in the Boat Race since 1975.[12] Steve Trapmore was making his debut as Cambridge's coach.[11] Oxford's stroke, Simon Hislop, had recovered from testicular cancer in time to participate in the race.[13]

George Nash (second left) rowing with Cambridge in 2013
Constantine Louloudis (pictured in 2015) rowed at number 6 for Oxford.
Seat Oxford
Cambridge
Name Age Nationality Weight Name Age Nationality Weight
Bow Moritz Hafner 26 German/Swiss 12 st 9 lb Mike Thorp 20 British 13 st 13 lb
2 Ben Myers (P) 21 British 15 st 6 lb Joel Jennings 23 British 15 st 6 lb
3 Alec Dent 21 British/French 14 st 2 lb Dan Rix-Standing 20 British 14 st 0 lb
4 Ben Ellison 22 British 14 st 11 lb Hardy Cubasch 30 Australian/German 15 st 10 lb
5 Karl Hudspith 22 British 14 st 8 lb George Nash 21 British 15 st 5 lb
6 Constantine Louloudis 19 British 14 st 10 lb Geoff Roth 23 Canadian 15 st 6 lb
7 George Whittaker 29 British 13 st 10 lb Derek Rasmussen (P) 23 American 12 st 11 lb
Stroke Simon Hislop 26 British 14 st 8 lb David Nelson 27 Australian 14 st 13 lb
Cox Sam Winter-Levy 18 British 8 st 9 lb Liz Box 23 British/Australian 8 st 4 lb
Source:[10]
(P) – boat club president

Races

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The Championship Course along which the race is rowed

Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station.[14] Despite falling slightly behind early on in the race, Cambridge rowed their way back into contention and umpire Rob Clegg was forced to warn both crews as the coxes steered towards one another.[14] Following a brief clash of oars, Oxford started to pull away again at Harrods Furniture Depository. At Hammersmith Bridge, the Oxford cox called for push, shouting "2003" to invoke memories of the narrowest margin of victory in the history of the event in the 2003 race.[14] Passing St Paul's School, Oxford took the lead and steered across and in front of the Cambridge boat. Despite attempts to keep in touch with Oxford, Cambridge fell farther and farther behind, and Oxford passed the finishing post four lengths clear in a time of 17 minutes and 37 seconds.[4][14]

Oxford won the 66th Women's Boat Race by four lengths, their third consecutive victory. Oxford's Isis beat Cambridge's Goldie in the reserve race by six lengths.[4]

Reaction

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Cambridge number four Henry Cubasch remarked "They had the strength, character and went for it; we just let them slip."[15] Oxford's Constantine Louloudis said "We held Cambridge in high regard. But I certainly didn't predict a margin like that."[14] Cambridge president Rasumussen called it a "stinging defeat".[16]

References

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  1. ^ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  3. ^ "TV and radio". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Boat Race sponsor Xchanging to end contract". BBC News. 29 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  7. ^ Quarrell, Rachel (19 November 2009). "University Boat Race to have title sponsorship from 2010 onwards". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  8. ^ "The 2011 Boat Race in HD for first time". BBC Press Office. 21 March 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  9. ^ "A brief history of the Women's Boat Race". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  10. ^ a b c Quarrell, Rachel (7 March 2011). "Boat Race 2011: Oxford remain defiant despite champions Cambridge leading the way at official weigh-in". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  11. ^ a b Newman, Paul (25 March 2011). "Boat Race: Oxford rely on mind games to make splash". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  12. ^ a b Lowe, Alex (26 March 2011). "Boat Race: Impressive Oxford beat Cambridge". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  13. ^ Quarrell, Rachel (25 March 2011). "Boat Race 2011: Oxford's Simon Hislop fit to race after fight with cancer". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  14. ^ a b c d e Quarrell, Rachel (26 March 2011). "Boat Race 2011: Oxford trounce Cambridge and overturn the odds". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  15. ^ "Boat Race 2011: Oxford clinch victory over Cambridge". BBC Sport. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  16. ^ Ronay, Barney (26 March 2011). "Oxford upset the odds and dominate Cambridge in 157th Boat Race". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
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