The Boat Race 1974

The 120th Boat Race took place on 6 April 1974. Held annually, the Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames. It was won by Oxford who passed the finishing post five-and-a-half lengths ahead of Cambridge, in a winning time of 17 minutes 35 seconds, the fastest in the history of the race, beating the existing record set in the 1948 race. It was umpired by Ran Laurie.

In the reserve race, Goldie beat Isis, and in the Women's Boat Race, Cambridge were victorious.

Background

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")^[1] and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues").^[1] First held in 1829, the race takes place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London.^[2] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide.^[3][4] Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having beaten Oxford by a thirteen lengths in the previous year's race. Cambridge held the overall lead, with 67 victories to Oxford's 51 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).^[5][6]

The first Women's Boat Race took place in 1927, but did not become an annual fixture until the 1960s. Up until 2014, the contest was conducted as part of the Henley Boat Races, but as of the 2015 race, it is held on the River Thames, on the same day as the men's main and reserve races.^[7] The reserve race, contested between Oxford's Isis boat and Cambridge's Goldie boat has been held since 1965. It usually takes place on the Tideway, prior to the main Boat Race.^[6]

During preparation for the race, both crews were defeated on the Thames by the Lubrication Laboratory boat from Imperial College London.^[8] Jim Railton, writing in The Times was not impressed: "It has already been well established that there are no top class crews in this ... Boat Race. Each day on the Tideway in the final days of training have simply produced more negatives".^[8] Cambridge also lost twice in short races against their reserve crew Goldie, whom Oxford had defeated at the Reading University Head of the River Race by eight seconds.^[9] In appalling conditions, Cambridge won an interrupted race against a Barclays Bank crew.^[10] Meanwhile, Oxford defeated a "motley eight" from Tideway Scullers School by four lengths along the full course.^[9] Oxford's finishing coach was Daniel Topolski while Cambridge were guided by British Olympic rower David Jennens,^[11] and the race was umpired by Ran Laurie, who had rowed for Cambridge in the 1934, 1935 and 1936 races.^[12][13]

Crews

The Cambridge crew was marginally heavier than their opponents, weighing an average of 13 st 5.25 lb (84.7 kg), 0.25 pounds (0.1 kg) per rower more than Oxford.^[11] Oxford saw four Blues return to their crew, Nick Tee, Sam Nevin, Dennis Payne and American Olympian David Sawyier, while Cambridge welcomed back two – Ben Duncan and Howard Jacobs.^[9]

David Rendel rowed at number three for Oxford.

Seat	Oxford			Cambridge
	Name	College	Weight	Name	College	Weight
Bow	N. D. C. Tee	Balliol	12 st 1 lb	R. P. B. Duncan (P)	St Catharine's	13 st 8 lb
2	G. S. Innes	Oriel	13 st 2 lb	H. R. Jacobs	Pembroke	13 st 6 lb
3	D. Rendel	St Cross	13 st 10 lb	D. J. Walker	Clare	13 st 9 lb
4	S. D. Nevin	Christ Church	13 st 13 lb	D .P. Sprague	Emmanuel	13 st 2 lb
5	P. G. P. Stoddart	University	13 st 6 lb	J. H. Smith	Gonville & Caius	14 st 12 lb
6	P. J. Marsden	Lincoln	13 st 6 lb	J. H. Clay	Pembroke	13 st 4 lb
7	D. R. Payne	Balliol	13 st 5 lb	T. F. Yuncken	Pembroke	12 st 12 lb
Stroke	D. R. Sawyier (P)	Christ Church	14 st 2 lb	N. C. A. Bradley	Pembroke	12 st 3 lb
Cox	G. E. Morris	Oriel	8 st 12 lb	H. J. H. Wheare	Jesus	8 st 11 lb
Sources:[11][14] (P) – Boat club president[15]

Race

The Championship Course along which the Boat Race is contested

Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station.^[16] Oxford took an early lead with their stroke Sawyier making a good start. Despite this, by the Mile Post, Oxford were just one-third of a length clear, and while Cambridge's stroke rate was lower than their Dark Blue opposition, they remained in contention. By Hammersmith Bridge, Oxford held a two-length lead, and despite favourable wind and ride, Cambridge failed to respond. At Chiswick Steps, the lead had extended to four lengths and by Barnes Bridge it was five. Oxford passed the finishing post in a record-breaking time of 17 minutes 35 seconds, breaking the existing record from the 1948 race, five-and-a-half lengths clear of the Light Blues.^[16] Railton commented: "Tideway records reflect conditions more than comparisons with previous Boat Race crews" but noted "considering the slow conditions ... Oxford's performance must have been particularly inspired."^[16] The winning time was two seconds faster than the best time over the course, set by Oxford in practice in 1965, and 15 seconds quicker than the race record, set in the 1948 race by Cambridge.^[17]

In the reserve race, Cambridge's Goldie beat Oxford's Isis by five lengths, their seventh consecutive victory.^[6] In the 28th running of the Women's Boat Race, Cambridge triumphed, their eleventh consecutive victory.^[6]

References

Bibliography

• Dodd, Christopher (1983). The Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race. Stanley Paul. ISBN 0-09-151340-5. 
• Burnell, Richard (1979). One Hundred and Fifty Years of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Precision Press. ISBN 0-9500638-7-8. 

Notes

External links

• Official website

The Boat Race Oxford University Boat Club (crews) Cambridge University Boat Club (crews) The Championship Course Results Oxford University Women's Boat Club Cambridge University Women's Boat Club Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club Goldie Stones Blue Boat Henley Boat Races Women's Boat Race 1927 1929 1930 1934 1935 1936 1939 1941 1973 1974 1975 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1994 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1829 1836 1839 1840 1841 1842 1845 1846 1849 1849 1852 1854 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Category Commons