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The Boat Race 2002

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The 148th Boat Race took place on 30 March 2002, and was sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management. 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 beat Isis beat Goldie; Oxford won the Women's race as well.

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.[1] Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 2001 race by 3 feet (0.91 m),[2] and led overall with 77 victories to Oxford's 69 (excluding the "dead heat to Oxford by five feet" of 1877).[3][4] The race was sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management for the third consecutive year.[5]

Crews

Cambridge were the pre-race favourites.[3][6]

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

(P) – Boat Club President

Race description

The two crews (Cambridge (left) and Oxford (right)) after the end of the race

Cambridge won the coin toss and elected to start from the northern bank (the "Middlesex side") of the Thames.[7] 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.[8] 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]",[7] 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.[2][8]

Oxford finished with a time of 16 minutes, 54 seconds, Cambridge finishing two seconds behind them, three-quarters of a length behind.[2][8] It was Oxford's second victory in the previous three years and brought the overall result to 77–70 in Cambridge's favour.[2] At the finish, following tradition, the Oxford crew threw their cox, Pete Hackworth, into the water in celebration.[7] Mayer was hospitalised minutes after the race, as a result of exhaustion.[7]

In the reserve race, Oxford's Isis beat Cambridge's Goldies. Earlier, Oxford won the 57th women's race by two-and-a-half lengths.[9]

Reaction

Oxford cox Pete Hackworth said "it was neck and neck, but I had absolute belief we could do it".[3] Four-time Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent said of the race "it truly was amazing".[10] 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."[7]

References

  1. ^ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d "Boat Race – Results". theboatrace.org. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Oxford clinch Boat Race". BBC Sport. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". theboatrace.org. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer. 8 April 2014.
  6. ^ "2002". Cambridge University Boat Club. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d e Turbervill, Huw (30 March 2002). "The Boat Race: Dark Blues' brutal success". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  8. ^ a b c "Strokewatch: The Boat Race". BBC Sport. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Women's Boat Race – results". theboatrace.org. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  10. ^ Pinsent, Matthew (1 April 2002). "A race to remember". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
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