Harvard–Yale Regatta

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The Harvard–Yale Regatta
Contested by
Harvard Yale
Information
First boat race August 3, 1852
Annual event since July 26, 1859
Current champion Harvard
Downstream record Harvard, 18:22.4 (1980)
Upstream record Harvard, 18:41.9 (1995)
Course Thames River,
New London, Connecticut
Course length 4 miles (6.4 km)
Trophy A pair of silver inscribed trophy oars
Number of wins
Harvard Yale
94 54

The Yale–Harvard Boat Race or Yale–Harvard Regatta is an annual rowing race between Yale University and Harvard University. First contested in 1852, annually since 1859 except during major wars fought by the United States, The Race is America's oldest collegiate athletic competition, predating The Game by 23 years. Originally rowed on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, it has since moved to the Thames River, New London, Connecticut. Although other locations for the race have included the Connecticut River at Springfield, Massachusetts, and Lake Quinsigamond at Worcester, Massachusetts, the Thames has hosted The Race on all but five occasions since 1878 and both teams have erected permanent training camps on the Thames at Gales Ferry for Yale and at Red Top for Harvard. The race has been exclusively between Harvard and Yale except for 1897 when the race was held as part of a three boat race with Cornell on the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie, New York, where, although it lost to Cornell, Yale was deemed the winner of the Harvard–Yale race.[1][2]

History

On May 24, 1843, with the arrival of the shell Whitehall in New Haven, Yale University founded the first collegiate crew in the United States.[3] A year later, Harvard founded their boat club.[4] These boat clubs served primarily a social purpose,[4] until Yale's 1852 issuance of a challenge to Harvard "to test the superiority of the oarsmen of the two colleges".[2] The first Harvard-Yale Boat Race—and the first American intercollegiate sporting event—took place on August 3, 1852. In this two-mile (3.2 km) contest, Harvard's Oneida prevailed over Yale's Shawmut by about two lengths, with Yale's Undine finishing third.[3] The first place prize was a pair of black walnut, silver inscribed trophy oars. The trophy oars were awarded to Harvard by General Franklin Pierce who in 1853 became the 14th President of the United States of America. Today the 1852 trophy oars are the oldest intercollegiate athletic prize in North America.[5]

The race distance was increased to three miles (4.8 km) for the second rendition in 1855 and to the current four miles (6.4 km) in 1876. The Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race is the only longer side-by-side rowing event in the world, though slower stream makes the Yale–Harvard Race one to three minutes longer.[6]

"The Rock" at Bartlett's Cove during the 2010 Harvard–Yale Regatta

Originally the race was just between the varsity crews but there are now three events: the 2-mile (3.2-km) freshman race, the 3-mile (4.8-km) junior varsity race, and the 4-mile (6.4-km) varsity race.[citation needed] The varsity crews compete for the Sexton Cup, the junior varsity for the F. Valentine Chappell Trophy, and the freshman for the New London Cup.[citation needed] The Hoyt C. Pease and Robert Chappell Jr. Trophies are awarded to the team that wins the majority of the three races.[citation needed]

Typically the day before the freshman, junior varsity and varsity races, there is a two-mile (3.2 km) race between the spares for both crews. These "combination" boats are made up of second freshman boat and third varsity boat rowers (i.e. the "combi" or "combo" race).[citation needed] The winner of this race gets the James P. Snider Cup, as well as the right to paint its school's colors on the "rock" at Bartlett's Cove for the next day's races.[citation needed] Currently Harvard leads the varsity series at 94–54, the second varsity (JV) at 75–37, and the freshman series at 71–39–1. Harvard also holds the upstream course record with its time of 18:41.9 in 1995. Yale's fastest upstream time (18:45.5) was also posted that year.[citation needed] The Crimson set the downstream—and Thames River course—mark of 18:22.4 in 1980.[citation needed]

Cups

The James Snider Cup is awarded to the winning crew of the Combination race of the Harvard–Yale Regatta, which is held annually in New London, Connecticut. The Combination crews are typically composed of rowers from the third varsity and second freshman boats of their respective programs. Traditionally the two crews race a 2-mile (3.2-km) course the day before the Regatta, with the winning crew earning both possession of the Cup and the right to paint the large rock surface south of Bartlett's Cove—typically the most popular viewing spot for the Regatta's main events the next day—with their school's colors.

The James P. Snider Cup was dedicated in honor of James P. "Jamie Sniderman" Snider by the Yale Heavyweight Crew Class of 2005 following the Harvard–Yale Regatta held on June 11, 2005. The cup was donated in honor of Jamie's years of dedicated service to both the Yale Heavyweight Crew and the Yale Crew program as a whole. In 1995 and 1996 Jamie served as an assistant coach of the Yale Women's Crew, leading the 1995 Third Varsity to a 10–4 record. After becoming an assistant with the Men's Heavyweight squad, Jamie led the 1997 Third Varsity Crew to an undefeated season, an Eastern Sprints Gold Medal, and a victory in the Combination Race of the Harvard–Yale Regatta. Jamie's 1999 Combination crew earned the right to paint the rock as well. Currently, Jamie serves as the assistant coach of the Women's Program. In 2006 he led his Third Varsity Four to a third place finish at the Eastern Sprints, and in 2007, 2008, 2009 he coached the Varsity Four to gold medals at Eastern Sprints and a sixth, sixth and third place finish at NCAAs.

In addition to coaching Yale crews during the season, Jamie has served as caretaker of Gales Ferry, the home and training site for the Yale Men's Heavyweight Crew during preparation for the Harvard–Yale Regatta since 1878. He has also served as Director of the Yale University Community Rowing Program since its inception in the summer of 1999. Originally established as a small pilot program, the program has since grown to include over 100 youth participants annually, providing rowing opportunities for organizations such as the National Youth Sports Program, American School for the Deaf, and the Connecticut Special Olympics.

Yale Varsity bow four 2007

Results

Varsity Race

  • Harvard: 94 wins
  • Yale: 54 wins
Harvard–Yale Regatta varsity race results[7][8][9]
Date Site Length Direction Winner Harvard Time Yale Time
August 3, 1852 Winnipesaukee 2 miles Harvard (2 lengths)
July 21, 1855 Springfield 3 Harvard 22:47 24 min.
July 26, 1859 Worcester 3 Harvard 19:18 20:18
July 24, 1860 Worcester 3 Harvard 18:53 19:05.5
July 29, 1864 Worcester 3 Yale 19:43.5 19:01
July 28, 1865 Worcester 3 Yale 19:09 18:42.5
July 26, 1866 Worcester 3 Harvard 18:43.5 19:10
July 19, 1867 Worcester 3 Harvard 18:12.75 19:25.5
July 24, 1868 Worcester 3 Harvard 17:48.5 18:38.5
July 23, 1869 Worcester 3 Harvard 18:02 18:11
July 22, 1870 Worcester 3 Harvard 20:30 (fouled)
1871 (no race)[lower-alpha 1] (no race)
July 24, 1872 Springfield[lower-alpha 2] 3 Harvard 16:57 18:13
July 17, 1873 Springfield[lower-alpha 3] 3 Yale (uncertain) 16:59
July 18, 1874 Saratoga[lower-alpha 4] 3 Harvard 16:56 (disabled)
July 14, 1875 Saratoga[lower-alpha 5] 3 Harvard 17:05 17:14.5
June 30, 1876 Springfield[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 7] 4 Yale 22:31 22:02
June 30, 1877 Springfield 4 Harvard 24:36 24:43
June 28, 1878 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 20:44.75 21:29
June 27, 1879 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 22:15 23:58
July 1, 1880 New London 4 Downstream Yale 25:09 24:27
July 1, 1881 New London 4 Downstream Yale 22:19 22:13
June 30, 1882 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 20:47.5 20:50.5
June 28, 1883 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 25:46.5 25:59
June 26, 1884 New London 4 Downstream Yale 20:48 20:31
June 26, 1885 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 25:15.5 26:30
July 2, 1886 New London 4 Upstream Yale 21:05 20:42
July 1, 1887 New London 4 Downstream Yale 23:10.5 22:56
June 29, 1888 New London 4 Downstream Yale 21:24 20:10
June 28, 1889 New London 4 Upstream Yale 21:55 21:30
June 27, 1890 New London 4 Downstream Yale 21:40 21:29
June 26, 1891 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 21:23 21:57
July 1, 1892 New London 4 Downstream Yale 21:42.5 20:48
June 30, 1893 New London 4 Downstream Yale 25:15 25:01.5
June 28, 1894 New London 4 Downstream Yale 24:38 23:45.5
June 28, 1895 New London 4 Downstream Yale 22:05 21:30
1896 (no race) (no race)
June 25, 1897 Poughkeepsie 4 Yale* 21:00 20:44
June 23, 1898 New London 4 Upstream Yale 24:35 24:02
June 29, 1899 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 20:52.5 21:13
June 28, 1900 New London 4 Downstream Yale 21:37.4 21:12.8
June 27, 1901 New London 4 Downstream Yale 23:45 23:37
June 26, 1902 New London 4 Downstream Yale 20:33 20:20
June 25, 1903 New London 4 Downstream Yale 20:19.6[lower-alpha 8] 20:19.8
July 1, 1904 New London 4 Upstream Yale 22:10 21:40.5
June 29, 1905 New London 4 Upstream Yale 22:36 22:33.5
June 28, 1906 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 23:02 23:11
June 27, 1907 New London 4 Upstream Yale 21:13 21:10
June 25, 1908 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 24:10 (not taken)
July 11, 1909 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 21:50 22:10
June 30, 1910 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 20:46.5 21:04
June 30, 1911 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 22:44 23:40.5
June 21, 1912 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 21:43.5 22:04
June 20, 1913 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 21:42 22:20
June 19, 1914 New London 4 Upstream Yale 21:16.2 21:16
June 25, 1915 New London 4 Upstream Yale 21:13.5 20:52
June 23, 1916 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 20:02 20:17
1917 (no race) (no race)
June 1, 1918 Derby, CT 2 Harvard 10:58 11:04
June 20, 1919 New London 4 Downstream Yale 21:47.6 21:42.2
June 25, 1920 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 23:11 23:46
June 24, 1921 New London 4 Downstream Yale 20:44.2 20:41
June 23, 1922 New London 4 Upstream Yale 22:06 21:53
June 22, 1923 New London 4 Downstream Yale 22:35 22:10
June 20, 1924 New London 4 Downstream Yale 22:11 21:58.4
June 19, 1925 New London 4 Upstream Yale 20:32.4 20:26
June 25, 1926 New London 4 Upstream Yale 20:21.6 20:14.4
June 24, 1927 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 22:35.1 22:39
June 22, 1928 New London 4 Downstream Yale 20:56 20:21.6
June 21, 1929 New London 4 Upstream Yale 21:39 21:20
June 20, 1930 New London 4 Downstream Yale 20:31 20:09
June 19, 1931 New London 4 Downstream Harvard
June 24, 1932 New London 4 Downstream Harvard
1933 Harvard
1934 Yale
1935 Yale
1936 Harvard
1937 Harvard
1938 Harvard
1939 Harvard
1940 Harvard
1941 Harvard
1942 Harvard
1943–1945[10] (no race) (no race)
June 1, 1946 Cambridge (short) d Harvard
1947[10] New London Harvard
1948 Harvard
1949 Yale
1950 Harvard
1951 Harvard
June, 1952[10] New London Yale
August, 1952[10] Winnepesaukee Harvard 2.7 seconds
1953 Harvard
1954 Yale
1955 Yale
1956 Yale
1957 Yale
1958 Yale
1959 Harvard
1960 Harvard
1961 Harvard
1962 Yale
1963 Harvard 28 seconds[10]
1964 Harvard
1965 Harvard
1966 Harvard
1967 Harvard
1968 Harvard
1969 Harvard
1970 Harvard
1971 Harvard
1972 Harvard
1973 Harvard
1974 Harvard
June 7, 1975 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 22:07 22:49
May 22, 1976 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 23:43.9 24:47.9
May 22, 1977 New London 2 Upstream Harvard 9:42.6 9:57.7
June 10, 1978 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 23:26 23:39
June 9, 1979 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 19:22.9 19:25.4
June 7, 1980 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 18:22.4 18:30.8
May 31, 1981 New London 4 Upstream Yale 21:39.6 21:28.6
June 12, 1982 New London 4 Downstream Yale 20:07.8 19:51.8
June 5, 1983 New London 4 Upstream Yale 21:03 20:45
June 3, 1984 New London 4 Upstream Yale 21:53.6 21:10
June 8, 1985 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 19:41.1 19:57.9
1986 Harvard
1987 Harvard
1988 Harvard
1989 Harvard
1990 Harvard
1991 Harvard
1992 Harvard
1993 Harvard
1994 Harvard
1995 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 18:41.9 18:45.5
June 8, 1996 New London 4 Downstream Yale 20:08.5 20:01.9
June 1, 1997 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 22:06.8 22:10.3
June 6, 1998 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 20:32.3 20:53.7
June 5, 1999 New London 4 Downstream Yale 20:51.98 20:45.94
June 10, 2000 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 19:44.4 19:54.2
June 3, 2001 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 18:55.6 19:32.7
June 8, 2002 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 19:02.5 19:43.8
June 7, 2003 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 18:54.4 19:44.2
June 12, 2004 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 18:42.1 19:06.8
June 11, 2005 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 19:20.4 20:00.0
June 11, 2006 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 23:22.6 23:30.4
June 9, 2007 New London 4 Upstream Yale 19:58.0 19:57.5
June 14, 2008 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 18:54.1 19:01.6
June 13, 2009 New London 4 Downstream Harvard 21:25.6 21:45.1
May 29, 2010[11] New London 4 Upstream Harvard 19:40.3 19:46.2
May 28, 2011 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 19:05.7 19:19.1
May 26, 2012 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 19:41.3 19:51.2
June 9, 2013 New London 4 Upstream Harvard 21:17.6 21:41.3

Junior Varsity Race

  • Harvard: 75 wins
  • Yale: 37 wins
Harvard–Yale Regatta junior varsity race results
Date Site Length Direction Winner Harvard Time Yale Time
1977 New London 3 miles Upstream Harvard
1978 New London 3 Upstream Harvard
June 8, 1996 Yale 16:42.4 16:37.6
June 1, 1997 Harvard 13:57.2 14:11.6
June 6, 1998 Harvard 16:12
June 5, 1999 Harvard 16:17.7 16:26.6
June 10, 2000 Harvard 15:01.2 15:15.7
June 3, 2001 Harvard 14:23.7 14:37.5
June 8, 2002 Harvard 14:19.0 14:45.8
June 7, 2003 Harvard 13:57.0 14:31.2
June 12, 2004 Harvard 13:46.1 14:16.4
June 11, 2005 Yale 14:32.9 14:12.9
June 11, 2006 Harvard 16:22.0 16:30.1
June 9, 2007 Yale 15:45.0 15:27.0
June 14, 2008 Harvard 14:03.2 14:23.4
June 13, 2009 Harvard 16:16.9 16:19.2
May 29, 2010[11] Harvard 14:46.8 15:02.4
May 28, 2011 Harvard 13:38 14:08
May 26, 2012 Harvard 14:55 15:27
June 9, 2013 Harvard 16:24.9 16:30.9

Freshman Race

  • Harvard:71
  • Yale: 39
  • Dead Heats: 1
Harvard–Yale Regatta freshman race results
Date Site Length Direction Winner Harvard Time Yale Time
1978 New London 2 miles Upstream Harvard
June 8, 1996 Yale 11:06.4 10:43.0
June 1, 1997 Harvard 10:53 10:57
June 6, 1998 Harvard 10:45 10:52
June 5, 1999 Harvard 10:36.97 10:47.14
June 10, 2000 Yale 9:42.6 9:33.3
June 3, 2001 Harvard 9:39.4 9:56.8
June 8, 2002 Harvard 9:23.4 9:38.8
June 7, 2003 Harvard 9:49.4 10:06.8
June 12, 2004 Harvard 8:46.1 8:50.0
June 11, 2005 Harvard 9:06.1 9:13.6
June 10, 2006 Yale 11:05 11:04.05
June 9, 2007 Harvard 10:01.13 10:11.69
June 14, 2008 Harvard 8:53.8 9:01.3
June 13, 2009 Harvard 10:43.2 10:50.1
May 29, 2010[11] Upstream Harvard 9:32.7 9:47.6
May 28, 2011 Upstream Harvard 9:02 9:23
May 26, 2012 Upstream Harvard 10:25 10:34
June 9, 2013 Upstream Harvard 10:29.5 11:00.8

Combination Race

The combination boat is manned by rowers from the third varsity and second freshman boats, the strongest substitutes available to the junior varsity and freshman boats.

The James P. Snider Cup was dedicated for the 2005 race, won by Yale. Harvard holds a 9-3 record overall.

Date Winner Harvard Time Yale Time
June 7, 1996 Yale +17 secs
June 4, 1999 Yale
June 11, 2004 Harvard 10:09.4 10:18.0
June 10, 2005 Yale 9:21.9 9:17.4
June 9, 2006 Harvard
June 8, 2007 Harvard 9:29.36 9:39.79
June 13, 2008 Harvard 8:55.3 9:07.4
June 12, 2009 Harvard
May 28, 2010 Harvard +4 secs
May 27, 2011 Harvard 9:28 9:40
May 25, 2012 Harvard 11:22 11:48
June 8, 2013 Harvard 11:55.0 11:58.6

See also

Notes

  1. The first regatta of the Rowing Association of American Colleges was held July 21, 1871, at Ingleside, Massachusetts, on the Connecticut River. Massachusetts Agricultural College won the university race with Harvard second and Brown University third. Yale did not participate (nor join the RAAC) but continued to dispute its disqualification in the 1870 race with Harvard.
    "Record of the College Regattas: From the Winnipeseogee Contest in 1852 to that of Yesterday". The New York Times. July 15, 1875.
  2. In the RAAC university race of 1872, Harvard finished second and Yale sixth among six entries. Amherst College won in 16:32.8 or 24.2 seconds ahead of Harvard. The crew generally rowed 40 to 46 strokes per minute.
    "The College Regatta: A Victory for Amherst. Another Surprise—Amherst the winners in 16:32 4-5, the best time on record ...". New York Tribune. July 25, 1872. p. 1.
    According to The New York Times, "A very strong current and quite a fresh breeze helped them along".
  3. In the RAAC university race of 1873, Yale was finally declared the winner and the other places were not declared. "Shortly before midnight the referee announced that he would only decide upon the first position for the time being, and Yale he declared the winner of the race. The decision on other positions are reserved for a future time. Capt. Babcock, the referee, has stated to the Harvard boys that he is compelled technically, to award the University race to Yale, but he stated that the flags were not correctly placed at the finish, and that, consequently, the course on the east shore was much greater than on the west shore. The Harvards claim that the champion flags were awarded to them by the judges, whose judgment, like that of many others, was that Harvard had arrived at the finish in advance of all the crews ..."
    "Referee's Decision: Yale to take the Championship Colors". Boston Daily Globe. July 18, 1873.
  4. After two days of postponements a much diminished crowd watched the university race of the RAAC Regatta at Saratoga in 1874. Columbia won the race (unofficial time 16:42) officially followed by Wesleyan, Harvard, and six others, finally Yale. "It was unanimously acknowledged that Yale had the lead and Harvard second.Harvard's boat then ran into the Yale boat, breaking the latters' rudder."
    San Francisco Chronicle evidently quoting multiple accounts in New York Evening Post
  5. In the RAAC university race of 1875, Harvard finished third and Yale fifth among thirteen boats. Cornell won the race. Yale had been the betting favorite with Cornell second.
    "The News in this City: Intense Excitement Throughout New-York". The New York Times. July 15, 1875. p. 2.
  6. The 1876 Harvard–Yale race introduced both the eight-oar crews with coxswain and the 4-mile distance, two features borrowed from the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
    Peter Mallory. The Sport of Rowing: Two Centuries of Competition. Four volumes. Henley-on-Thames, England: River Rowing Museum. 2011. Selections published online in advance as row2k.com Exclusive Features.
    • "Bob Cook: Pilgrimage to Britain – The Bob Cook Stroke". Mallory (2011), vol. 2, ch. 27 (pp. 312–18).
    • "American Collegiate Rowing Takes Shape: Harvard versus Yale – The IRA". Mallory (2011), vol. 2, ch. 28 (pp. 319–29).
    Both featured online by row2k.com in (Mallory, chapters 27–35) (pages 312–60). Retrieved 2013-05-11.
  7. Yale defeated Harvard soundly in a race of eight-oared boats in Springfield on June 30. Harvard continued west to Saratoga for the RAAC Regatta ("the Harvard six", for the Association championship matched "coxless sixes") but Yale did not participate. Harvard did not participate again and the Association disintegrated during the next several years. Regarding the Saratoga and Springfield events: "Yale does not row there, and Harvard will not after this year, but the eight-oared bout between Yale and Harvard, so successfully inaugurated to-day, will undoubtedly become an annual and permanent institution."
    "College Regatta: Yale and Harvard Eight-Oar Crews Try Conclusions. The Contest Takes Place on the Old Connecticut River Course." Chicago Daily Tribune. July 1, 1876. p. 8.
  8. Two sources report time 20:19.6 for Harvard, different but greater times 20:19.8 and 20:29.8 for Yale, and Yale the winner.

References

  1. "USRowing" (aspx). Retrieved 2007-01-17. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "America's Oldest Intercollegiate Athletic Event". Prior to May 2, 2001. John Veneziano, Harvard Sports Information Director. Harvard University Boat Club (HUBC). Archived 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
    Unchanged 2001 to 2011 except the closing sentence, "The last four races have been split between the two crews."
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Great Moments in Yale Sports". Yale Alumni Magazine. March 2001. Archived 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Lewis, p. 224.
  5. firstharvardyalerace.com.
  6. "Harvard–Yale Boat Race Turns 150". Harvard Magazine. May–June 2002.
  7. "Harvard–Yale Results" (1852 to 1906). Prior to June 25, 2001. HUBC. Archived 2011-04-30. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  8. A second source for results from 1876 through 1903 is The World Almanac and Book of Facts. New York: Newspaper Enterprise Association [etc.], 1800. pp. 267.
  9. "row2k Results" (1997 to date). (row2k.com).
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 "Harvard–Yale Regatta – 150 Years of Tradition". Retrieved 2013-05-10.
    (Footer states "Copyright 2010 Harvard University"; content includes "the Crimson's five straight sweeps" 2008 to 2012.)
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Bulldogs Hang Tough, But Harvard Holds On to Win The 145th Regatta". Yale University Athletics. May 29, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-26. 
Citations

Further reading

  • Mendenhall, Thomas C. The Harvard–Yale Boat Race 1852–1924 and the coming of sport to the American college (Mystic Seaport Museum, 1970, ISBN 978-0913372647)
  • Whiton, James M. "The First Harvard–Yale Regatta". Outlook LXVIII (June 1901): 286-89.

External links

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