The Boat Race 1859
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox University Boat Race
| name= 16th Boat Race
| winner = Oxford
| margin = Cambridge sank
| winning_time= 24 minutes 4 seconds
| overall = 9–7
| umpire = Joseph William Chitty
(Oxford)
| date= {{Start date|1859|4|15|df=y}}
| prevseason= 1858
| nextseason= 1860
| reserve_winner =
| women_winner =
}}
The 16th Boat Race took place on 15 April 1859. 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 went ahead following Cambridge's request for a postponement due to extremely rough conditions being rejected. Oxford won the race after Cambridge sank. It was the first time in the history of the event that one of the crews did not finish the race.
Background
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 }} Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having defeated Oxford by {{frac|7|1|2}} lengths in the previous year's race. They led overall with nine 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}}
For the 1859 race, Oxford instigated a new method of crew selection: trial eights. Prior to this, the selection of crew was made on the recommendations of the college boat club captains. Oxford boat club president John Arkell remarked "it will not do to trust too much the judgment of the College captains."MacMichael, p. 255–56 Following a race between the two trial eights, the final crew was selected eight weeks prior to the race. Cambridge would not introduce this selection method until the 1868 race.MacMichael, p. 256 Oxford began training on 14 March with an outing almost every day between then and 13 April. Cambridge, on the other hand, arrived in London six days before the race and made just three outings on the Thames.MacMichael, pp. 256–60 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.Drinkwater, p. 54Burnell, p. 97
Crews
File:SirArchibaldLevinSmith.jpg
Oxford saw the return of three former Blues in Lane, Risley and Arkell, all of whom rowed in the 1858 race. Cambridge welcomed back five former rowers, including Archibald Levin Smith who had rowed in both the 1857 and 1858 races. Oxford's crew weighed an average of 11 st 8.75 lb (73.6 kg), approximately {{convert|3.25|lb|kg}} per man more than their opponents.
| class=wikitable | ||||||
| rowspan="2" |Seat
! colspan="3" |Cambridge ! colspan="3" |Oxford | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name
! College ! Weight ! Name ! College ! Weight | ||||||
| Bow | N. Royds | 1st Trinity | 10 st 6 lb | H. F. Baxter | Brasenose | 10 st 12 lb |
| 2 | H. J. Chaytor | Jesus | 10 st 13 lb | R. F. Clarke | St John's | 11 st 13 lb |
| 3 | A. L. Smith | 1st Trinity | 11 st 11 lb | C. G. Lane | Christ Church | 11 st 9 lb |
| 4 | D. Darroch | 1st Trinity | 12 st 4 lb | V. Lawless | Balliol | 12 st 3 lb |
| 5 | H. Williams | Lady Margaret Boat Club | 12 st 6 lb | G. Morrison | Balliol | 13 st 1 lb |
| 6 | R. L. Lloyd (P) | Magdalene | 11 st 9 lb | R. W. Risley | Exeter | 11 st 2 lb |
| 7 | G. A. Paley | Lady Margaret Boat Club | 11 st 7 lb | G. Thomas | Balliol | 11 st 4 lb |
| Stroke | J. Hall | Magdalene | 10 st 2 lb | J. Arkell (P) | Pembroke | 10 st 12 lb |
| Cox | J. T. Morland | 1st Trinity | 9 st 0 lb | A. J. Robarts | Christ Church | 9 st 1 lb |
| colspan="9"|Sources:MacMichels, p. 265Burnell, pp. 50–51 (P) – boat club president |
Race
File:University Boat Race Thames map.svg, along which the race is conducted]]
The weather was inclement, with the sky overcast by heavy clouds and gale-force winds;MacMichael, p. 260 according to a report in The Times, "it would not have been easy to pitch on a more unfavourable day for an eight-oared race".MacMichael, p. 261 Although Cambridge were pre-race favourites, they requested a postponement because of the conditions.Burnell, pp. 6–7 Oxford refused the request; Cambridge lost the toss and were handed the Surrey station for the start.MacMichael, p. 263 The Middlesex station provided Oxford considerable relief from the rough water and wind.
Oxford's boat was heavily criticised: "it was everything but what was right", but it became quickly apparent that the Cambridge boat was too light for the conditions,MacMichael, pp. 262–263 and began taking on water from the moment it left the shore.MacMichael, p. 265 Oxford made a good start and after the first mile, were two-to-three lengths ahead of Cambridge. Conditions soon worsened: some of the steamboats in the flotilla following the crews looked "bound to capsize". By Hammersmith Bridge the Cambridge boat was "ankle deep in water" and was sinking under the rough water. Oxford took the opportunity to extend their lead and pulled away from their opponents and the boats following. As Cambridge's vessel sank opposite The White Hart pub at Mortlake,Burnell, p.7 some members of the crew were picked up by boats while others swam to the shore.MacMichael, p. 264
Oxford recorded a winning time of 24 minutes and 4 seconds and took the overall record to 9–7 in favour of Cambridge. It was the first time in the event's history that a boat sank.{{Cite web | url = http://theboatraces.org/report/start-of-the-annual-race | title = Start of the annual race | publisher = The Boat Race Company Limited | access-date = 13 August 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141106125855/http://theboatraces.org/report/start-of-the-annual-race | archive-date = 6 November 2014 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}
References
Notes
{{reflist|30em}}
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 Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race | first = Christopher| last = Dodd | isbn= 0091513405 | publisher =Stanley Paul |year= 1983}}
- {{Cite book | title = The University Boat Race – Official Centenary History | first = G. C. |last = 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}}
External links
- [http://theboatraces.org/ Official website]
{{The Boat Race}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boat Race 1859}}
Category:1859 in English sport