The Boat Race 1932
84th Boat Race | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date | 19 March 1932 | ||
Winner | Cambridge | ||
Margin of victory | 5 lengths | ||
Winning time | 19 minutes 11 seconds | ||
Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) | 43–40 | ||
Umpire | Harcourt Gilbey Gold (Oxford) | ||
|
The 84th Boat Race took place on 19 March 1932. 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. The race was umpired by former Oxford rower Harcourt Gilbey Gold on a shortened because of repairs to Putney Bridge. Cambridge won by five lengths, the largest winning margin for three years, in a time of 19 minutes 11 seconds, their ninth consecutive victory. The win equalled the record victorious streaks of Oxford between 1861 and 1869, and 1890 and 1898, and took the overall record to 43–40 in their favour.
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] The race was first held in 1829, and since 1845 has taken place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London.[2][3] The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities; it is followed throughout the United Kingdom and, as of 2014, broadcast worldwide.[4] Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1931 race by 2+1⁄2 lengths, and led overall with 42 victories to Oxford's 40 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).[5][6]
Oxford were coached by H. R. Barker (who rowed for the Dark Blues in the 1908 and 1909 races) and John Houghton Gibbon (who had participated in the 1899 and 1900 races, and umpired the previous year's race). Cambridge's coaches were F. E. Hellyer (who had rowed for the Light Blues in the 1910 and 1911 races), J. A. MacNabb (rowed in the 1924 race) and Peter Haig-Thomas (four-time Blue for Cambridge between 1902 and 1905).[7] The race was umpired by Harcourt Gilbey Gold, former Dark Blue president for the 1900 race and four-time Blue, rowing in each race between 1896 and 1899.[8]
The start of this year's race was moved to the
Cambridge were considered to be favourites to win the race: according to Evans, they had "a command of their boat" although Oxford had "acquired more 'drive' from the coaching of Colonel J. H. Gibbon".
Crews
The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 12
Seat | Oxford |
Cambridge | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | College | Weight | Name | College | Weight | |
Bow |
G. A. Ellison | New College | 11 st 8.5 lb | D. Haig-Thomas | Lady Margaret Boat Club | 11 st 6 lb |
2 | G. M. L. Smith | Brasenose | 11 st 9 lb | K. M. Payne | 3rd Trinity | 12 st 5 lb |
3 | J. de R. Kent | Brasenose | 11 st 8.5 lb | T. G. Askwith | Peterhouse | 11 st 8.5 lb |
4 | C. M. Johnston (P) | Brasenose | 12 st 4.5 lb | W. A. T. Sambell |
Pembroke | 12 st 6.5 lb |
5 | W. D. C. Erskine-Crum | Christ Church | 12 st 6 lb | C. J. S. Sergel | Clare | 12 st 9 lb |
6 | R. A. J. Poole | Brasenose | 13 st 2.5 lb | H. R. N. Rickett (P) | 3rd Trinity | 12 st 11.5 lb |
7 | W. H. Migotti | Worcester | 11 st 5.5 lb | D. H. E. McCowen | Pembroke | 12 st 1.5 lb |
Stroke |
C. A. Chadwyck-Healey | Trinity | 11 st 6.25 lb | L. Luxton | Pembroke | 12 st 2.25 lb |
Cox | E. R. Edmett | Worcester | 8 st 7 lb | J. M. Ranking | Pembroke | 6 st 13 lb |
Source:[13] (P) – boat club president[15] |
Race
Cambridge won the
As the crews passed below Hammersmith Bridge, Cambridge drew clear and held a two-length lead by the Doves pub. In rough water along Chiswick Reach, Oxford struggled and at Chiswick Steps they were eleven seconds behind the Light Blues. Despite a spurt from the Dark Blues, Cambridge passed under Barnes Bridge five lengths ahead.[16] They held that lead to pass the finishing post in a time of 19 minutes 11 seconds, the largest winning margin since the 1929 race.[5] It was their ninth consecutive victory and the first time in the history of the race that Cambridge had equalled the successful winning streaks of Oxford between 1861 and 1869, and 1890 and 1898.[11]
References
Notes
- ^ a b "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "The Course". The Boat Race Company Limited. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
- ^ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Limited. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ Burnell, pp. 110–111
- ^ Burnell, p. 49
- The Manchester Guardian. 16 March 1932. p. 4.
- The Manchester Guardian. p. 19.
- ^ a b c "Cambridge hopes of victory". The Times. No. 46086. 19 March 1932. p. 13.
- The Manchester Guardian. 19 March 1932. p. 13.
- ^ a b c Burnell, p. 74
- ^ Burnell, p. 39
- ^ Burnell, pp. 50–51
- ^ The Manchester Guardian. p. 5.
Bibliography
- ISBN 0950063878.
- Dodd, Christopher (1983). The Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race. ISBN 0091513405.