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The '''93rd Boat Race''' took place on 29 March 1947. Held annually, the Boat Race is a [[Rowing (sport)#Side by side|side-by-side rowing]] race between crews from the Universities of [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] and [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] along the [[River Thames]]. In a race umpired by former Oxford rower D. T. Raikes, Cambridge won by ten lengths in a time of 23 minutes 1 second, taking the overall record in the event to 49–43 in their favour. |
The '''93rd Boat Race''' took place on 29 March 1947. Held annually, the Boat Race is a [[Rowing (sport)#Side by side|side-by-side rowing]] race between crews from the Universities of [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] and [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] along the [[River Thames]] in London. In a race umpired by former Oxford rower D. T. Raikes, Cambridge won by ten lengths in a time of 23 minutes 1 second, taking the overall record in the event to 49–43 in their favour. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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[[File:Paulette Goddard-publicity-2.JPG|right|thumb|upright|American actress [[Paulette Goddard]] watched the race on board a press [[Launch (boat)|launch]].|alt=A woman with long, dark hair, smiling]] |
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[[The Boat Race]] is a [[Rowing (sport)#Side by side|side-by-side rowing]] competition between the [[University of Oxford]] (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")<ref name=blues>{{Cite web | url = |
[[The Boat Race]] is a [[Rowing (sport)#Side by side|side-by-side rowing]] competition between the [[University of Oxford]] (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")<ref name=blues>{{Cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/apr/06/theobserver | work = [[The Observer]] | title = Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight | date = 6 April 2003 | access-date = 20 August 2014 }}</ref> and the [[University of Cambridge]] (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues").<ref name=blues/> The race was first held in 1829, and since 1845 has taken place on the {{convert|4.2|mi|km|adj=on}} [[The Championship Course|Championship Course]] on the [[River Thames]] in southwest London.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/london/10719622/University-Boat-Race-2014-spectators-guide.html | work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | access-date = 20 June 2014 | date = 25 March 2014 |title = University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide | first = Oliver |last =Smith}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://theboatraces.org/the-course | title = The Course| access-date = 24 July 2014 | publisher = The Boat Race Company Limited}}</ref> The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide.<ref name=CBC>{{cite news|title=Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race crew|date=6 April 2014|publisher=[[CBC News]] |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/former-winnipegger-in-winning-oxford-cambridge-boat-race-crew-1.2600176|access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref> Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the [[The Boat Race 1946|1946 race]] by three lengths,<ref name=results>{{Cite web | url = http://theboatraces.org/results| publisher = The Boat Race Company Limited| title = Boat Race – Results| access-date = 20 August 2014}}</ref> with Cambridge leading overall with 48 victories to Oxford's 43 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).<ref>{{Cite web | url= http://theboatraces.org/classic-moments-the-1877-dead-heat | publisher = The Boat Race Company Limited | title = Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat | access-date =20 August 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141028142809/http://theboatraces.org/classic-moments-the-1877-dead-heat | archive-date= 28 October 2014}}</ref> |
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Oxford's coaches were R. E. Eason (who rowed for the Dark Blues in the [[The Boat Race 1924|1924 race]]), P. C. Mallam (four-time Blue between 1921 and 1924) and [[Guy Oliver Nickalls]] (who rowed three times for Oxford between 1921 and 1923). Cambridge were coached by John Houghton Gibbon (who rowed for the Light Blues in the [[The Boat Race 1899|1899]] and [[The Boat Race 1900|1900 races]]), |
Oxford's coaches were R. E. Eason (who rowed for the Dark Blues in the [[The Boat Race 1924|1924 race]]), P. C. Mallam (four-time Blue between 1921 and 1924) and [[Guy Oliver Nickalls]] (who rowed three times for Oxford between 1921 and 1923). Cambridge were coached by John Houghton Gibbon (who rowed for the Light Blues in the [[The Boat Race 1899|1899]] and [[The Boat Race 1900|1900 races]]), [[Hugh Mason (rower)|Hugh Mason]] (who represented Cambridge in the [[The Boat Race 1936|1936]] and [[The Boat Race 1937|1937 races]]) and Peter Haig-Thomas (four-time Blue between 1902 and 1905).<ref>Burnell, pp. 110–111</ref> The umpire for the race was former Oxford rower D. T. Raikes who had represented the Dark Blues in the [[The Boat Race 1920|1920]], [[The Boat Race 1921|1921]] and [[The Boat Race 1922|1922 races]].<ref>Burnell, p. 49</ref> Among the spectators were [[Geoffrey Fisher]], the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], and American actress [[Paulette Goddard]].<ref name=easyrace/> It was the first year that souvenir programmes were sold, the proceeds of which would help to fund the two boat clubs.<ref name=oxfordchance/> |
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The rowing correspondent for ''[[The Times]]'' suggested that Oxford could win, claiming they had an "''embarras de richesse''" while Cambridge "started this year with a grievous shortage of material".<ref name=oxfordchance>{{Cite news | title = Oxford's chance to-day| work = [[The Times]] | page = 8 | issue = 50722 | date = 29 March 1947}}</ref> In a practice row, the rowing correspondent for ''[[The Manchester Guardian]]'' stated that "Cambridge showed much better form" while Oxford "did rather more hard work", including practicing their start from a stakeboat.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Boat-race practice | date = 27 March 1947 | page = 6 | work = [[The Manchester Guardian]]}}</ref> Oxford were reported as being favourites in the ''[[Dundee Courier]]'', with the prediction that the win could be determined by who won the [[coin flipping|toss]].<ref>{{Cite news | title = Toss of coin may win Boat Race | work = [[Dundee Courier]]| date = 29 March 1947 | page = 4 | url = http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19470329/072/0004 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> That view was echoed in the ''Dundee Evening Telegraph'', who also suggested that Oxford were favourites yet "abnormal flooding" would favour the crew who won the toss.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Flooding may affect Boat Race result | work = Dundee Evening Telegraph| date = 29 March 1947 | page = 1 | url = http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19470329/007/0001 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> |
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==Crews== |
==Crews== |
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The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 12 [[Stone (unit)|st]] 5 [[Pound (mass)|lb]] (78.3 kg), {{convert|5.5|lb|kg|2}} per rower more than their opponents. Oxford saw four rowers with Boat Race experience return to the crew, including J. R. W. Gleave, R. M. A. Bourne, P. N. Brodie and [[stroke (rowing)|stroke]] A. J. R. Purssell |
The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 12 [[Stone (unit)|st]] 5 [[Pound (mass)|lb]] (78.3 kg), {{convert|5.5|lb|kg|2}} per rower more than their opponents. Oxford saw four rowers with Boat Race experience return to the crew, including J. R. W. Gleave, R. M. A. Bourne, P. N. Brodie and [[stroke (rowing)|stroke]] [[Anthony John Richard Purssell|A. J. R. Purssell]] Cambridge's boat contained just one crew member who had taken part in the event before, in [[Coxswain (rowing)|cox]] G. H. C. Fisher.<ref name=burn76>Burnell, p. 76</ref> The [[Cambridge University Boat Club]] president, M. A. Nicholson was declared unfit to row following a series of bouts of asthma.<ref name=easyrace/> All participants in the race were registered as British.<ref>Burnell, p. 39</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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! rowspan="2" scope="col| Seat |
! rowspan="2" scope="col| Seat |
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! colspan="3" scope="col| Oxford <br> [[File:Oxford-University-Circlet.svg|30px]] |
! colspan="3" scope="col| Oxford <br> [[File:Oxford-University-Circlet.svg|30px]] |
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! colspan="3" scope="col| Cambridge <br> [[File:University of Cambridge coat of arms |
! colspan="3" scope="col| Cambridge <br> [[File:University of Cambridge coat of arms.svg|30px]] |
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==Race== |
==Race== |
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[[File:University Boat Race Thames map.svg|right|thumb|[[The Championship Course]] along which the Boat Race is contested]] |
[[File:University Boat Race Thames map.svg|right|thumb|[[The Championship Course]] along which the Boat Race is contested]] |
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Oxford won the |
Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the [[Surrey]] station, handing the [[Middlesex]] side of the river to Cambridge. The race was started by umpire Raikes at 6:15 p.m,<ref name=burn76/> in "rain and dismal weather".<ref name=easyrace>{{Cite news | title = Cambridge have an easy race | work = [[The Observer]] | first = G. I. F. | last = Thomson | date = 30 March 1947 | page = 8}}</ref> [[Stroke rate|Out-rating]] Oxford by two strokes per minute, the Light Blues took an immediate lead and by Craven Steps they were pulling away from their opponents. As both crews passed the Mile Post, Cambridge were almost clear by two lengths, and despite a spurt from the Dark Blues at the [[Harrods Furniture Depository]], the Light Blues maintained their lead. Oxford trailed Cambridge by three and a half lengths as the Light Blues passed below [[Hammersmith Bridge]] and moved into Oxford's water, effectively ending the race as a contest.<ref name=easy/> |
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Cambridge |
Cambridge continued to build their lead, ahead by six lengths at Chiswick Steps and eight by [[Barnes Railway Bridge|Barnes Bridge]].<ref name=easy/> They passed the finishing post ten lengths ahead in a time of 23 minutes 1 second, their first win since the [[The Boat Race 1939|1939 race]]. It was the slowest winning time since the 1877 race and the winning margin was the largest since the [[The Boat Race 1928|1928 race]]. The victory took the overall record in the event to 49–43 in Cambridge's favour.<ref name=results/> The rowing correspondent for ''The Times'' suggested the "Boat Race was as disappointing as the weather in which it was rowed".<ref name=easy>{{Cite news | title = Cambridge's easy victory | work = [[The Times]] | date = 31 March 1947 | page = 2 | issue = 50723}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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'''Bibliography''' |
'''Bibliography''' |
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*{{Cite book | title = One Hundred and Fifty Years of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race | first = Richard | last = Burnell | |
*{{Cite book | title = One Hundred and Fifty Years of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race | first = Richard | last = Burnell | author-link = Dickie Burnell | year=1979| isbn= 0950063878 | publisher = Precision Press}} |
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*{{Cite book | title = The Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race | first = Christopher| last = Dodd | isbn= 0091513405 | publisher =[[ |
*{{Cite book | title = The Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race | first = Christopher| last = Dodd | isbn= 0091513405 | publisher =[[Stanley Paul]] |year= 1983}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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[[Category:1947 in English sport]] |
[[Category:1947 in English sport]] |
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[[Category:The Boat Race]] |
[[Category:The Boat Race]] |
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[[Category:March 1947 sports events in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:1947 sports events in London]] |
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{{rowing-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 19:38, 26 September 2024
| 93rd Boat Race | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 29 March 1947 | ||
| Winner | Cambridge | ||
| Margin of victory | 10 lengths | ||
| Winning time | 23 minutes 1 second | ||
| Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) | 49–43 | ||
| Umpire | D. T. Raikes (Oxford) | ||
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The 93rd Boat Race took place on 29 March 1947. Held annually, the Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames in London. In a race umpired by former Oxford rower D. T. Raikes, Cambridge won by ten lengths in a time of 23 minutes 1 second, taking the overall record in the event to 49–43 in their favour.
Background
[edit]
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] The race was first held in 1829, and since 1845 has taken place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London.[2][3] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide.[4] Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1946 race by three lengths,[5] with Cambridge leading overall with 48 victories to Oxford's 43 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).[6]
Oxford's coaches were R. E. Eason (who rowed for the Dark Blues in the 1924 race), P. C. Mallam (four-time Blue between 1921 and 1924) and Guy Oliver Nickalls (who rowed three times for Oxford between 1921 and 1923). Cambridge were coached by John Houghton Gibbon (who rowed for the Light Blues in the 1899 and 1900 races), Hugh Mason (who represented Cambridge in the 1936 and 1937 races) and Peter Haig-Thomas (four-time Blue between 1902 and 1905).[7] The umpire for the race was former Oxford rower D. T. Raikes who had represented the Dark Blues in the 1920, 1921 and 1922 races.[8] Among the spectators were Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and American actress Paulette Goddard.[9] It was the first year that souvenir programmes were sold, the proceeds of which would help to fund the two boat clubs.[10]
The rowing correspondent for The Times suggested that Oxford could win, claiming they had an "embarras de richesse" while Cambridge "started this year with a grievous shortage of material".[10] In a practice row, the rowing correspondent for The Manchester Guardian stated that "Cambridge showed much better form" while Oxford "did rather more hard work", including practicing their start from a stakeboat.[11] Oxford were reported as being favourites in the Dundee Courier, with the prediction that the win could be determined by who won the toss.[12] That view was echoed in the Dundee Evening Telegraph, who also suggested that Oxford were favourites yet "abnormal flooding" would favour the crew who won the toss.[13]
Crews
[edit]The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 12 st 5 lb (78.3 kg), 5.5 pounds (2.49 kg) per rower more than their opponents. Oxford saw four rowers with Boat Race experience return to the crew, including J. R. W. Gleave, R. M. A. Bourne, P. N. Brodie and stroke A. J. R. Purssell Cambridge's boat contained just one crew member who had taken part in the event before, in cox G. H. C. Fisher.[14] The Cambridge University Boat Club president, M. A. Nicholson was declared unfit to row following a series of bouts of asthma.[9] All participants in the race were registered as British.[15]
| Seat | Oxford 
|
Cambridge 
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | College | Weight | Name | College | Weight | |
| Bow | D. G. Jamieson (P) | Magdalen | 11 st 9.5 lb | A. P. Mellows | Clare | 11 st 12 lb |
| 2 | P. H. Mathews | St Edmund Hall | 11 st 11 lb | D. J. C. Meyrick | Trinity Hall | 11 st 0 lb |
| 3 | D. A. M. Mackay | Lincoln | 13 st 3 lb | N. S. Rogers | Jesus | 12 st 9 lb |
| 4 | T. D. Raikes | Trinity | 12 st 3 lb | P. J. Garner | King's | 11 st 12 lb |
| 5 | J. R. W. Gleave | Magdalen | 12 st 5 lb | W. A. D. Windham | Christ's | 13 st 4 lb |
| 6 | R. M. A. Bourne | New College | 11 st 4 lb | I. M. Lang | Gonville and Caius | 13 st 8 lb |
| 7 | P. N. Brodie | Oriel | 11 st 4 lb | A. S. F. Butcher | Queens' | 11 st 13 lb |
| Stroke | A. J. R. Purssell | Oriel | 11 st 12 lb | G. C. Richardson | Magdalene | 12 st 10 lb |
| Cox | A. Palgrave-Brown | Queen's | 8 st 10 lb | G. H. C. Fisher | 1st & 3rd Trinity | 8 st 10 lb |
| Source:[16] (P) – boat club president, M. A. Nicholson acted as Cambridge's non-rowing president[17] | ||||||
Race
[edit]
Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge. The race was started by umpire Raikes at 6:15 p.m,[14] in "rain and dismal weather".[9] Out-rating Oxford by two strokes per minute, the Light Blues took an immediate lead and by Craven Steps they were pulling away from their opponents. As both crews passed the Mile Post, Cambridge were almost clear by two lengths, and despite a spurt from the Dark Blues at the Harrods Furniture Depository, the Light Blues maintained their lead. Oxford trailed Cambridge by three and a half lengths as the Light Blues passed below Hammersmith Bridge and moved into Oxford's water, effectively ending the race as a contest.[18]
Cambridge continued to build their lead, ahead by six lengths at Chiswick Steps and eight by Barnes Bridge.[18] They passed the finishing post ten lengths ahead in a time of 23 minutes 1 second, their first win since the 1939 race. It was the slowest winning time since the 1877 race and the winning margin was the largest since the 1928 race. The victory took the overall record in the event to 49–43 in Cambridge's favour.[5] The rowing correspondent for The Times suggested the "Boat Race was as disappointing as the weather in which it was rowed".[18]
References
[edit]Notes
- ^ a b "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "The Course". The Boat Race Company Limited. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
- ^ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ Burnell, pp. 110–111
- ^ Burnell, p. 49
- ^ a b c Thomson, G. I. F. (30 March 1947). "Cambridge have an easy race". The Observer. p. 8.
- ^ a b "Oxford's chance to-day". The Times. No. 50722. 29 March 1947. p. 8.
- ^ "Boat-race practice". The Manchester Guardian. 27 March 1947. p. 6.
- ^ "Toss of coin may win Boat Race". Dundee Courier. 29 March 1947. p. 4.(subscription required)
- ^ "Flooding may affect Boat Race result". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 29 March 1947. p. 1.(subscription required)
- ^ a b Burnell, p. 76
- ^ Burnell, p. 39
- ^ Dodd, p. 332
- ^ Burnell, pp. 50, 52
- ^ a b c "Cambridge's easy victory". The Times. No. 50723. 31 March 1947. p. 2.
Bibliography
- Burnell, Richard (1979). One Hundred and Fifty Years of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Precision Press. ISBN 0950063878.
- Dodd, Christopher (1983). The Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race. Stanley Paul. ISBN 0091513405.
External links
[edit]The Boat Races | |||
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