The Boat Race 1858

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark 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 = 8 April 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140911000610/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/apr/06/theobserver | archive-date = 11 September 2014 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }} and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues"). The race was first held in 1829, and since 1845 has taken place on the {{convert|4.2|mi|km|adj=on}} Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London.{{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 = 3 June 2014 | date = 25 March 2014 | title = University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide | first = Oliver | last = Smith | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140701231555/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/london/10719622/University-Boat-Race-2014-spectators-guide.html | archive-date = 1 July 2014 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}{{Cite web | url = http://theboatraces.org/the-course | title = The Course | access-date = 24 July 2014 | publisher = The Boat Race Company Limited | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141028142856/http://theboatraces.org/the-course | archive-date = 28 October 2014 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }} Oxford went into this year's race as reigning champions, having defeated Cambridge by eleven lengths in the previous year's race. Cambridge however led overall with eight wins to Oxford's six.{{Cite web| url = http://theboatraces.org/results| publisher = The Boat Race Company Limited| title = Boat Race – Results| access-date = 26 October 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160712214951/http://theboatraces.org/results| archive-date = 12 July 2016| url-status = live| df = dmy-all}}

Cambridge were coached for the fifth time by Thomas Selby Egan, (who had coxed the Light Blues in the 1836, 1839 and 1840 races),MacMichael, pp. 238–239Burnell, p. 110 while Oxford's coach was Alfred Shadwell (cox for the Dark Blues in the 1842 race and coach for the fourth time).Burnell, pp. 54, 111 The race was umpired by Joseph William Chitty who had rowed for Oxford twice in 1849 (in the March and December races) and the 1852 race, while the starter was Edward Searle.Drinkwater, p. 54Burnell, pp. 49, 97

The Oxford crew weighed an average of 11 st 8.875 lb (73.7 kg), {{convert|1|lb|kg|1}} per rower more than their opponents. Archibald Levin Smith, Robert Wharton and Robert Lewis-Lloyd (who was rowing his third Boat Race for the Light Blues)Burnell, p. 56 had featured in Cambridge's 1857 crew. Oxford's crew included five participants who had competed in the previous race, including J. T. Thorley, who was making his third appearance in the event.

File:SirArchibaldLevinSmith.jpg rowed at number two for Cambridge.]]

File:University Boat Race Thames map.svg along which the Boat Race is competed]]

Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station, handing the Surrey side of the river to Oxford.MacMichael, p. 242 The race commenced at 1 p.m. and almost immediately the Oxford boat club president and stroke J. T. Thorley "caught a crab"{{Cite web | work = The Independent Rowing News| title = Ask Doctor Rowing: British crabs and wooden schoenbrods| first =Andy|last= Anderson| date =15 October 2000 |page = 30 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=G00EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22catch+a+crab%22+rowing&pg=PA30 }} which "completely brought their eight to standstill."Drinkwater, p. 45 Cambridge took the lead but were caught following a clash of their port-side oars with a barge. The boats were level at the Crab Tree pub but here Cambridge began to draw ahead and passed under Hammersmith Bridge with a length-and-a-half lead.MacMichael, p. 243 The Light Blues continued to increase their lead and passed the flag-boat at Mortlake {{frac|7|1|2}} lengths ahead of Oxford in a time of 21 minutes 23 seconds.

It was the fastest time since the 1846 race (which was held on the ebb tide), and took the overall record in the event to 9–6 in Cambridge's favour.{{Cite web | url = http://theboatraces.org/results | title = Results | publisher = The Boat Race Company Limited | access-date = 29 July 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160712214951/http://theboatraces.org/results | archive-date = 12 July 2016 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }} Although it was hoped that a rematch would be conducted at the Henley Royal Regatta, Oxford failed to make up a crew, and Cambridge went on to defeat Leander Club before winning the Grand Challenge Cup against London Rowing Club.Drinkwater, p. 46Burnell, p. 86

Notes

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Bibliography

• {{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}}
• {{Cite book | title = The University Boat Race – Official Centenary History | first1 = G. C. |last1 = Drinkwater | first2= T. R. B. |last2=Sanders |publisher = Cassell & Company, Ltd.| year = 1929}}
• {{Cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/oxfordandcambri00macmgoog | page = [https://archive.org/details/oxfordandcambri00macmgoog/page/n57 37] | quote = boat race oxford cambridge. | title = The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Races: From A.D. 1829 to 1869| first = William Fisher | last = MacMichael | publisher = Deighton | date = 1870}}

• [http://theboatraces.org/ Official website]

{{The Boat Race}}

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Category:1858 in English sport

Category:The Boat Race

Category:1858 in British sport

Category:March 1858