THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL
1988
TO-DAY'S VARSITY BOAT-RACE
OXFORD HEAVIER BUT FAVOURITES BY SLIGHT MARGIN
COMPETITIVE ASPECT HAS BEEN RETAINED
WILL BE BROADCAST TO-NIGHT (Exclusive To China Mail By Air Mail)
THE
3
London, March 10.
HE idle preferences and illogical prejudices that divide human beings are seldom seen in a keener or stranger light than on Boat Race Day, orį. the days preceding it.
"I often think its comical
That Nature always should contrive
That every little boy or gal
That's born into the world alive
Is either a little Liberal
Or else a little Conservative”
sang the sentry in "Tolanthe," but the three-party system in Great Britain soon put an end to the ef- fectiveness of this political and social satire, and in these days of strange new political ideologies hard and fast dividing lines have almost disappeared.
Sport has taken the place of politics as the amphitheatre for the clash of prejudices, and the University Boat Race provides, the strangest example of all.
PUTNEY SRIDGE
TUCHAM PALACE
CRAVEK STE/9
FULHAM FOOTELL GROUN
CSASTREE
BARNES
START
ANE BREWERY
FINISH
This special air-photo plan of the 44 mile mile course over which to-day's boat race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities will be rowed, will help listeners to follow closely the commentary which will be given by John Snagg. It shows every important landmark that de- likely to be mentioned by the Commentator. As before, the commenta- tor for to-day's race will make his broadcast from aboard the launch "Magician" which will follow the crews from Putney to Mortlake.
THE CREWS
OXFORD
The little Liberal or Conserva- Those who can make their way to tive was at least a potential vot- the riverside do so, to see the start at *J. I. Garton (Eton, Mag-
dalen), Bow Putney, the finish at Mortlake or get er; coming to sport, the suppor-1 limpse of the crews flashing by at
FM. Young (Westminster ter of a football team usually some point in between. There can be Trinity) lives in the town that houses the no big sporting event of which the B. B. Stewart (Eton, Mag- club, but the Boat Race arouses will see the whole race if he follows H. A. W. Forbes (St. Paul's,
spectator sees so little. (Of course he dalen) partisanship in the breasts of the crews in a launch).
Magdalen) those who have never seen either! The spectator on the bank @cammot{N. F. Burrough (St. Ed- university and hardly know the complain, however, that he does not ward's, St. Edmund H.) 13. 12 difference between a cox and a Race is also the only major sporting
get his money's worth, for the Boat F. A. L. Waldron (Shrews-
bary, Trinity) stroke. The intensity of partisan-spectacle that can be seen for nothing. J. C. Cherry (Westminster, ship seems to grow in proportion Those who get the most out of the B.N.C.) to the lack of connection with race are probably those who see part *A. B. Hodgson (Eton, Oriel),
of the race from some vantage point, stroke and
and without leaving their places can *G. J. P. Merifeld (King Ed- listen to the wireless commentary on ward VI, St. Edanaand. the rest of the race.
H.), cox Average weight 13 st. 2 b.
the crews
or universities knowledge of them.
SUDDEN SUPPORTERS Thousands of men and women, boys
THRILL REMAINS
CAMBRIDGE
*B. T Coulton (Dulwich,
Jesus), bow
A M. Turner (Cranleigh,
Corpus)
11
# A A # 2 2 2 2
st. Ib.
11
13 6
12 8
13 1
11
12:0
*A Burrough (St. Paul's,
Jesus)
12
G. G. Keppel (Princeton,
Trinity Hall}
13 8
J. L. L. Savill (Radley,
Jesus)
12 122
13 12
*T B. Langton (Radley,
Jesus)
13 8%
14
.62
A. Campbell (Barow, Sel-
wyn)
12 5
*D. S. M. Eadie (Oundle,
12
1
9
*T E Fronter
8 9
8
2
* Old Blues.
*
(Harvard,
First Trinity), stroke. 12
Trinity Hall), Cox Average weight 12 st. 9. lbs.
Garsinen
and girls suddenly become whole-heart- But, whatever the view the eatin ed supporters of the sportsmen of the siast gets, or if he gets no view at all, two famous seats of learning, and walk but depends like the majority, entirely the tow-path proudly bearing the dark on the wireless and newspaper 20-years. For 13 years Cambridge won them to victory last year. R. R. Ste blue, of Oxford and the light blue of counts of the race (and they will tell regularly till an Oxford victory seem-wart and J. P. Burrough, Cambridge: Rowing is not a nation-fhim more than he could ever see), the led a far-off memory, and an equally whose presence leads to confidence, and ally popular sport, the vastly greater thrill remains, loyalties and fancies are far-distant hope. Then last year Ox-also last year's cox, G. J. P. Merri- part of the population complete their invoked and the nation divides itself ford, who had impressed in practice; jfield. education without seeing either univer-into light and dark blues.
confirmed their promise by winning a city, but on one Saturday at the end And not only in the British Isles, but great race by three lengths.
SURPRISE SELECTION of March or the beginning of April(throughout the Empire and in many
The surprise of the Oxford crew is This year, with the heaviest crew the Westminster and Trinity oarsHEN, each year most of the population be lands besides, the sporting community ever to represent either university, Os-H. L. Young, who missed his Blue last comes keenly interested in this private splits into two camps for this 20 min-ford are favourites again. They aver-year contest between the gentlemen of Ox-jutes race,
́and was apparently age 13st to Cambridge's 12st. 9lbs. to
going ford and Cambridge to decide who can COMPETITIVE ASPECTS REVIVED The previous heaviest crew were Cam-year.
be overlooked again this
He row a boat more quickly from Putney. There is greater competitive inter- bridge, in 1936, when they averaged Burnell and Pepys strained their backs, came into the crew when to Mortlake.
est in the race this year than for many 13st. 05b.
Cambridge have thres Old Blues in Much of Oxford's favouritism seems the president, T. B. Langton, A. Bur- to be based on their greater weight, rough and the cox, TE Hunter. and their supporters seem to lose
Oxford's winning boat of last year sight of the fact that the heavier crew is the model, for both of this year's is by no means necessarily the better, boats. They will be 52ft 6in in Cambridge in practice have shown length, but Oxford's will be a little themselves to be a lively and polished wider and deeper than Cambridge's, crew, though they are shorter in the in order to take a heavier crew. They water than Oxford, who, as might be will have swivel rowlocks. expected, have a slowo and steady This will be the 90th race. Of the. rhythm.
previous 89, Cambridge have won 47 to Oxford's 41 In 1877 there was a dead
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REGATTA RECORDS
In weighing the chances of the crews heat.
it is interesting to compare regata. Oxford won the first race, în 1823, records. The best Oxford crew at masly in 14min. 40secs, but the dis Henley last summer were Magdalen. tance was only 24 miles, or two miles who rowed - a dead-heat with Clare less than the present race. The cotuse Cambridge, and lost the re-row. Jesus on that occasion was from Hambleden (Cambridge) were faster then either Lock to Harley Bridgy
ige to Lazey
Now Magdalen have two of their Hen- There was an interval of seven years: ley crew in the Oxford eight, but Glare without a race, and in 1886 the are unrepresented in the Cambridge WBS Zowed - OPE
55 miles - course boat. Jesus suvely four of the Cam- from Westminster bridge eight On the basis of the Bridge Camer comparison Cambridge's chance look The Westminster to Putney courZE AKAS well
retained until 1842. In 1849 there Oxford have four new Blues in J. L were two races, Cambridge winning Garton, H. M. Young, H.A. W. Forbes the first on March 29 and Oxford be- and F.A. L. Waldron, and have Oldg awarded the second on December Blues in J. C. Cherry, their 144 stone 15 en a foul president, A. B. Hodgson, who stroked
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