The Boat Race 1990

The 136th Boat Race took place on 31 March 1990. 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. Oxford won by two-and-a-quarter lengths.^[1] The race featured the heaviest oarsman ever to have rowed in the event in Oxford's Chris Heathcote, and the lightest Cambridge crew for nearly 30 years.

In the reserve race, Cambridge's Goldie won as Oxford's Isis was disqualified. Cambridge won the Women's Boat Race.

Background

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")^[2] and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues").^[2] 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.^[3] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide.^[4][5] Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1989 race by two-and-a-half lengths,^[1] with Cambridge leading overall with 69 victories to Oxford's 65 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).^[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.^[1]

The race was umpired by former Cambridge Blue Mike Sweeney, his fourth appearance in the role.^[8] He had advised the coxes that he would not be afraid to disqualify either crew should he need to: "If I warn them, it's irrelevant what their opinion is. If they respond, fine. If not, they're in trouble."^[8] The race was sponsored by Beefeater Gin who, prior to the race, had signed a three-year contract to continue their involvement in the race, worth £250,000.^[8] The BBC also extended their deal with a new five-year contract to broadcast the race in the United Kingdom.^[8]

Crews

Matthew Pinsent rowed at number 4 for Oxford.

The Oxford crew weighed an average of 14 st 12 lb (94.1 kg) per rower, 2 stone 1.5 lb (13.3 kg) more than Cambridge whose crew was the lightest since 1963. The race featured the heaviest oarsman ever to have rowed in the event, with Oxford's Chris Heathcote weighing 17 st 5 lb (114.5 kg).^[9] Oxford's crew were also older and more experienced, with three world championship bronze medal winners in Jonathan Searle, Matthew Pinsent and Rupert Obholzer.^[10] Three of Oxford's crew had won two Boat Races each, while Cambridge featured two former Blues who had won none.^[10] Cambridge's cox Lisa Ross-Magenty had won with both the women's lightweight race in 1987 and Goldie in 1988, her counterpart Martin Watts was educated at Westminster School and "spent hours on the Tideway".^[10]

Seat	Oxford			Cambridge
	Name	College	Weight	Name	College	Weight
Bow	Tom G Slocock	St John's	14 st 6 lb	Richard C Young	Downing	12 st 13 lb
2	Rupert Obholzer	St Catherine's	13 st 12 lb	Richard J Stalte	St Catharine's	11 st 3 lb
3	Don J Miller III	University	14 st 13 lb	Duncan E Hole	Selwyn	13 st 3 lb
4	Matthew Pinsent	St Catherine's	15 st 7 lb	Ed C Clark	Trinity	11 st 10 lb
5	Richard A Hull	Oriel	13 st 13 lb	Paddy M Mant (P)	Selwyn	14 st 3 lb
6	Christopher J Heathcote	Jesus	17 st 5 lb	Guy Pooley	St John's	12 st 11 lb
7	Jonny Searle (P)	Christ Church	13 st 10 lb	Stephen L Fowler	Robinson	12 st 12 lb
Stroke	Michael P Gaffney	Hertford	15 st 4 lb	Adam J Wright	Corpus Christi	13 st 2 lb
Cox	Martin W Watts	Oriel	7 st 9 lb	Lisa Ross-Magenty	New Hall	7 st 10 lb
Source:[9][10] (P) – boat club president

Races

The Championship Course along which the Boat Race is contested

Cambridge were underdogs for the race, having lost all but one of the previous fourteen Boat Races.^[11] Cambridge president Paddy Mant won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station.^[12] A minute into the race, Cambridge held a third-of-a-length advantage, but as the crews approached the Fulham bend, Oxford drew alongside. Intelligent coxing from Oxford's Watts gained Oxford a lead of a length after three minutes. With clear water at Harrods Furniture Depository, Watts attempted to steer in front of Cambridge but was warned off by umpire Sweeney. Oxford passed below Hammersmith Bridge holding a four-second advantage and made a push, taking the lead out to six seconds by Chiswick Steps. Settling for a lower rating, Oxford were eight seconds clear by Barnes Railway Bridge, and despite a late surge by Cambridge, Oxford passed the finishing post seven seconds and two-and-a-quarter lengths ahead.^[12] The crews recorded the fourth- and fifth-fastest times in Boat Race history.^[13]

In the reserve race, Cambridge's Goldie won as Oxford's Isis were disqualified.^[1] After Isis had taken a three-quarter-length lead, a clash of blades resulted in irreparable damage to the Cambridge boat and a red flag from umpire John Garrett.^[12] Cambridge won the 45th Women's Boat Race by three-and-a-quarter lengths in a time of 7 minutes and 17 seconds, their third victory in four years.^[1]

Reaction

Lord Jenkins presented the Beefeater Trophy to winning president Searle.^[12] Cambridge coach Mark Lees said of his crew "It was the best they could do." and of Adam Wright, his stroke, who "relentlessly drove Cambridge", he commented: "It was one of the most courageous things I have ever seen".^[13] Lees' counterpart, Steve Royle, acknowledged "Cambridge raced very well."^[12]

References

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