The Boat Race 1869
{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox University Boat Race
| name= 26th Boat Race
| winner = Oxford
| margin = 3 lengths
| winning_time= 20 minutes 4 seconds
| overall = 10–16
| umpire = Joseph William Chitty
(Oxford)
| date= {{Start date|1869|3|17|df=y}}
| prevseason= 1868
| nextseason= 1870
| reserve_winner =
| women_winner =
}}
The 26th Boat Race between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge took place on the River Thames on 17 March 1869. Oxford won by three lengths in a time of 20 minutes and 4 seconds. It was their ninth consecutive victory and was, at that point, the fastest time ever recorded in the event.
Background
File:SirJosephWilliamChitty.jpg was the umpire.]]
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 = 1 September 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 = 7 November 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 the race as reigning champions, having defeated Cambridge by six lengths in the previous year's race and led overall with fifteen wins to Cambridge's ten.{{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}}
Having lost the last eight Boat Races, the Cambridge University Boat Club president William Anderson wrote to G. Morrison of Balliol College, Oxford, inviting him to coach the trials eights and the University eight.MacMichael, p. 351 Morrison had rowed in the 1859, 1860 and 1861 races and had also acted as a non-rowing president for the 1862 race.Burnell, p. 100 The decision to engage a member of the opposing university was greeted with consternation and considered by many Cantabrigians as "a disgrace to the Club". Indeed, five Old Blues refused to row, only William MacMIchael agreed to row again.Drinkwater, p. 62 After the usual difficulty to agree arrangements, Cambridge eventually sent the traditional challenge and the date of the race was set for 17 March 1869.MacMichael, p. 354 Cambridge arrived at Putney a fortnight beforehand and made several practice rows in variable conditions, the worst of which included heavy snow, three days prior to the race.MacMichael, pp. 354–355
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.Burnell, pp. 49, 97
Crews
The Oxford crewed weighed an average of 12 st 0.25 lb (76.1 kg), {{convert|2.125|lb|kg|1}} more than their opponents.Burnell, p. 59 The Cambridge crew contained three returning Blues, William MacMichael, William Anderson (for his third Boat Race) and John Still (his fourth), while Oxford saw the return of five rowers, including their boat club president J. C. Tinné for his third appearance and Frank Willan in his fourth Boat Race.
File:Frank Willan, Oxford.png made his fourth appearance for Oxford in the Boat Race.]]
| class=wikitable | ||||||
| rowspan="2" |Seat
! colspan="3" |Cambridge ! colspan="3" |Oxford | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name
| College | Weight | Name | College | Weight | ||||||
| Bow | J. A. Rushton | Emmanuel | 11 st 5 lb | S. H. Woodhouse | University | 10 st 13.5 lb |
| 2 | J. H. Ridley | Jesus | 11 st 10.5 lb | R. Tahourdin | St John's | 11 st 11 lb |
| 3 | J. W. Dale | St John's | 11 st 12 lb | T. S. Baker | Queen's | 12 st 8 lb |
| 4 | F. J. Young | Christ's | 12 st 4 lb | F. Willan | Exeter | 12 st 2.5 lb |
| 5 | W. F. MacMichael | Downing | 12 st 4 lb | J. C. Tinné (P) | University | 12 st 10.5 lb |
| 6 | W. H. Anderson (P) | 1st Trinity | 11 st 4 lb | A. C. Yarborough | Lincoln | 11 st 11 lb |
| 7 | J. Still | Gonville and Caius | 12 st 1 lb | W. D. Benson | Balliol | 11 st 7 lb |
| Stroke | J. H. D. Goldie | St John's | 12 st 1 lb | S. D. Darbishire | Balliol | 11 st 8.5 lb |
| Cox | H. E. Gordon | 1st Trinity | 7 st 8 lb | D. A Neilson | St John's | 7 st 10.5 lb |
| colspan="7"|Source:MacMichael, p. 356 (P) – boat club presidentBurnell, pp. 50–51 |
Race
File:University Boat Race Thames map.svg, along which the race is conducted]]
According to The Field, "the weather was not the most agreeable for a boat-race ... a raw wind ... leaden-coloured clouds overhanging the river".MacMichael, p. 355 Oxford, who were strong pre-race favourites, won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station, handing the Surrey station to Cambridge. Although the Light Blues made the faster start, Oxford soon pulled alongside them and by the London Rowing Club boathouse, held a lead of around {{convert|10|ft|m|0}}. Cambridge closed the gap but Oxford pulled away again. The lead was exchanged once again and Oxford took the lead at Craven Cottage. Despite erratic steering from Oxford's cox Darbishire, Oxford held the advantage until the crews shot Hammersmith Bridge, at which point the Light Blues held the lead by one third of a length.MacMichael, pp. 356–357
Still in the lead by The Doves pub, Cambridge steered too close to the bank and allowed Oxford to close the gap and passed Chiswick Eyot in the lead, with a half-length advantage by Chiswick Church. The Dark Blues passed under Barnes Bridge with a two-length lead and completed the course, passing the Ship Tavern three lengths clear in a time of 20 minutes 4 seconds.MacMichael, p. 358 It was their ninth consecutive victory and took the overall record to 16–10 in their favour. The winning time was the fastest ever, beating the previous record set in 1868 by 52 seconds, although some doubt was cast over the positioning of the finish which was believed to have made the course approximately {{convert|100|yd|m|0}} shorter. The record would stand until the 1873 race.Drinkwater, p. 63
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 1869}}
Category:1869 in English sport