Boat race drama makes an oarful mess - Cherwell, 20/04/12

In the midst of unprecedented drama Cambridge won the 158^th Boat Race two weeks ago, on the 7^th of April. A politically-motivated stunt, a broken blade, and a health scare marred the banner day of the two Universities boat clubs, leaving a slightly startled Light Blue boat the victors.

The early signs had suggested a successful day for Oxford. They had the bookies behind them (as 4/9 favourites), and recent form had been strong. In the battle of the two reserve boats Isis had put Goldie to the sword, with the Oxford boat pulling well ahead before Chiswick bridge and eventually winning by an official margin of five lengths. Isis having given up a stone a man to Goldie, this seemed a good omen for the Dark Blue boat, also lighter.

As the BBC broadcast the entry to the boats, with stony-faced men striding with purpose towards the Thames, all seemed much as any other year. The pundits were divided, with James Cracknell fixated upon Cambridge’s tandem rowing system, while Clare Balding called attention to the choppy conditions. In the end neither would really impact the contest.


After all the rigmarole, and once every tea leaves had been picked over (with much historical comparison of weight advantage etc.), things began in earnest. Cambridge on the south bank Surrey station, Oxford the northerly Middlesex station, after a brief game of chicken as each cox waited for the other to announce they were ready first the race was on.

Oxford had been expected to start well, but they surpassed most predictions and fairly stormed ahead, pulling half a length ahead and trying to make the most of the advantageous early lie of the river. Cambridge were soon pressing however, and in a sign of things to come there was a great deal of argy bargy. Both crews were repeatedly warned to move apart, and things were pretty close as the boats cleared Hammersmith Bridge and moved towards Chiswick Eyot. The Light Blues used the Surrey bend to get a sniff ahead but Oxford powered on and were just about in front when the first, and most surprising, of the day’s unexpected incidents occurred.

In what later emerged to be a protest against a fairly incoherent salad of right-on bugbears (his blog suggests other direct action could include pest controllers hired by ‘the elite’ introducing new pests into their houses), activist Trenton Olfield had swam into the river to disrupt the race. Spotted just in time, he was lucky not to lose his head to Oxford’s blades as he drifted into the race path. As he was escorted off by the police a lengthy caesura in proceedings began, everyone involved visibly frustrated, until the river had settled enough – the armada of following vessels had wrought merry hell with the water - to crack on with the race.

Farce followed farce though and only brief moments after the restart the crews converged. A warning for Oxford from umpire John Garrett preceded a collision, and just like that the race was done. The Dark Blues’ Weinhausen had lost a blade and Cambridge effectively had no competition. This did not stop Oxford cox Zoe de Toledo pushing her grim charges on though, rowing until the very end.

De Toledo’s appeal was refused by umpire Garrett, and with that Cambridge had won, although the lustre was immediately taken off of their victory as it emerged that Oxford bowman Alex Woods had collapsed in the boat. Oxygen was administered, and he was hospitalised, but has since made a recovery.

The circumstances dictated that Cambridge’s celebrations were dimmed. No official presentation ceremony and no fist-pumping. Oxford’s post-race reaction understandably focused on Woods; as the days went on attention turned to Oldfield who has now been given a thorough going-over by the press.

One to remember then, but for none of the reasons the organizers of the Boat Race would have chosen. Unbeatable for incident, but this year’s race had been shaping up to be a real corker, perhaps not as close as the following Saturday’s Grand National (though hopefully with fewer fatalities) but certainly a nerve-chewing contest and a real treat for the 250,000 spectators – not to mention the copious TV audience. What a shame that it ended like that then.