The Boat Race 2002: Difference between revisions
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Despite weighing just over {{convert|1|lb|kg}} less per man than their opponents ,<ref name=dodd>{{Cite web | url = http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/mar/30/highereducation.education | date = 30 March 2002 | work = [[The Guardian]] | accessdate = 4 June 2014 | title = Coxes hold the key in a test of tide and nerve | first = Christopher | last = Dodd}}</ref> Cambridge were the pre-race favourites.<ref name=bbc453/> Both boats contained four [[Blue (university sport)|Blues]] |
Despite weighing just over {{convert|1|lb|kg}} less per man than their opponents ,<ref name=dodd>{{Cite web | url = http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/mar/30/highereducation.education | date = 30 March 2002 | work = [[The Guardian]] | accessdate = 4 June 2014 | title = Coxes hold the key in a test of tide and nerve | first = Christopher | last = Dodd}}</ref> Cambridge were the pre-race favourites.<ref name=bbc453/> Both boats contained four [[Blue (university sport)|Blues]]; the Oxford cox [[Peter Hackworth]] attended [[St Paul's School, London|St Paul's School]] while Cambridge's cox Ellie Griggs attended [[St Paul's Girls School]], so both were familiar with the course.<ref name=dodd/> Oxford's crew contained two American international rowers in Dan Perkins and Luke McGee, and [[Gerritjan Eggenkamp]], a Dutch international. Cambridge's stroke, Rick Dunn, cousin of Oxford's bow Andrew Dunn, was a world champion in coxless fours, and he rowed alongside fellow British internationals Tom Stallard and [[Josh West]]. Cambridge's other international rowers included American Sam Brooks, German Sebastian Mayer and Australian Stu Welch.<ref name=dodd/> |
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Revision as of 07:59, 4 June 2014
148th Boat Race | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date | 30 March 2002 | ||
Winner | Oxford | ||
Margin of victory | 3/4 length | ||
Winning time | 16 minutes 54 seconds | ||
Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) | 77–70 | ||
Umpire | Simon Harris (Cambridge) | ||
Other races | |||
Reserve winner | Isis | ||
Women's winner | Oxford | ||
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The 148th Boat Race took place on 30 March 2002. Oxford won the race by three-quarters of a length, one of the narrowest margins of victory in the history of the contest.
In the reserve race Isis beat Goldie; Oxford also 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.[1] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide.[2] Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 2001 race by 3 feet (0.91 m),[3] and led overall with 77 victories to Oxford's 69 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).[4][5] The race was sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management for the third consecutive year.[6]
Crews
Despite weighing just over 1 pound (0.45 kg) less per man than their opponents ,[7] Cambridge were the pre-race favourites.[4] Both boats contained four Blues; the Oxford cox Peter Hackworth attended St Paul's School while Cambridge's cox Ellie Griggs attended St Paul's Girls School, so both were familiar with the course.[7] Oxford's crew contained two American international rowers in Dan Perkins and Luke McGee, and Gerritjan Eggenkamp, a Dutch international. Cambridge's stroke, Rick Dunn, cousin of Oxford's bow Andrew Dunn, was a world champion in coxless fours, and he rowed alongside fellow British internationals Tom Stallard and Josh West. Cambridge's other international rowers included American Sam Brooks, German Sebastian Mayer and Australian Stu Welch.[7]
Seat | Cambridge File:University of Cambridge coat of arms official.svg |
Oxford | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Bow | Tom Stallard (P) | Andrew Dunn | ||
2 | Sam Brooks | Bas Dixon | ||
3 | James Livingston | Gerritjan Eggenkamp | ||
4 | Sebastian Mayer | Dan Perkins | ||
5 | Josh West | Luke McGee | ||
6 | Lukas Hirst | Ben Burch (P) | ||
7 | Stu Welch | Robin Bourne-Taylor | ||
Stroke | Rick Dunn | Matt Smith | ||
Cox | Ellie Griggs | Peter Hackworth | ||
Sources:[8][9] |
(P) – Boat Club President
Race description
Cambridge won the coin toss and elected to start from the northern bank (the "Middlesex side") of the Thames.[10] Despite Cambridge's cox Griggs having her hand raised (to indicate that she and the Cambridge crew were not yet ready to commence), race umpire Simon Harris started the race.[11] With a stroke rate of 51, Oxford took an early lead, but Cambridge pulled level as the crews passed Craven Cottage. Taking a slight lead round the Surrey bend, Cambridge's number four, Mayer "die[d]",[10] allowing Oxford to draw up to within a second as they approached Barnes Bridge. In a sprint finish, Oxford pulled away to be three-quarters of a length clear at the finishing post.[3][11]
Oxford finished with a time of 16 minutes, 54 seconds, Cambridge finishing two seconds behind them, three-quarters of a length behind.[3][11] It was Oxford's second victory in the previous three years, and brought the overall result to 77–70 in Cambridge's favour.[3] At the finish, following tradition, the Oxford crew threw their cox, Pete Hackworth, into the water in celebration.[10] Mayer was hospitalised minutes after the race, as a result of exhaustion.[10]
In the reserve race, Oxford's Isis beat Cambridge's Goldie. Earlier at Henley, Oxford won the 57th women's race by two-and-a-half lengths.[12]
Reaction
Oxford cox Pete Hackworth said "it was neck and neck, but I had absolute belief we could do it".[4] Four-time Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent said of the race "it truly was amazing".[13] Cambridge coach Robin Williams was generous in defeat: "Credit to Oxford. They did an awesome job and took their chance. It was a fantastic race."[10]
References
- ^ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
- ^ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Boat Race – Results". theboatrace.org. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "Oxford clinch Boat Race". BBC Sport. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". theboatrace.org. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer. 8 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Dodd, Christopher (30 March 2002). "Coxes hold the key in a test of tide and nerve". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "2002". Cambridge University Boat Club. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ Dodd, Christopher (5 March 2002). "Boat Race Presidents reflect on crew selection". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Turbervill, Huw (30 March 2002). "The Boat Race: Dark Blues' brutal success". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "Strokewatch: The Boat Race". BBC Sport. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Women's Boat Race – results". theboatrace.org. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ Pinsent, Matthew (1 April 2002). "A race to remember". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 April 2014.