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The 93rd Boat Race took place on 29 March 1947. Held annually, the Boat Race is a Rowing (sport)#Side by side, side-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities of University of Oxford, Oxford and University of Cambridge, Cambridge along the River Thames in London. In a race umpired by former Oxford rower D. T. Raikes, Cambridge won by ten lengths in a time of 23 minutes 1 second, taking the overall record in the event to 49–43 in their favour.
The Boat Race is a Rowing (sport)#Side by side, side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues") and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues"). The race was first held in 1829, and since 1845 has taken place on the The Championship Course, Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London. The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide. Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the The Boat Race 1946, 1946 race by three lengths, with Cambridge leading overall with 48 victories to Oxford's 43 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).
Oxford's coaches were R. E. Eason (who rowed for the Dark Blues in the The Boat Race 1924, 1924 race), P. C. Mallam (four-time Blue between 1921 and 1924) and Guy Oliver Nickalls (who rowed three times for Oxford between 1921 and 1923). Cambridge were coached by John Houghton Gibbon (who rowed for the Light Blues in the The Boat Race 1899, 1899 and The Boat Race 1900, 1900 races), Hugh Mason (rower), Hugh Mason (who represented Cambridge in the The Boat Race 1936, 1936 and The Boat Race 1937, 1937 races) and Peter Haig-Thomas (four-time Blue between 1902 and 1905). The umpire for the race was former Oxford rower D. T. Raikes who had represented the Dark Blues in the The Boat Race 1920, 1920, The Boat Race 1921, 1921 and The Boat Race 1922, 1922 races. Among the spectators were Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and American actress Paulette Goddard. It was the first year that souvenir programmes were sold, the proceeds of which would help to fund the two boat clubs.
The rowing correspondent for ''The Times'' suggested that Oxford could win, claiming they had an "''Embarrassment of riches, embarras de richesse''" while Cambridge "started this year with a grievous shortage of material". In a practice row, the rowing correspondent for ''The Manchester Guardian'' stated that "Cambridge showed much better form" while Oxford "did rather more hard work", including practicing their start from a stakeboat. Oxford were reported as being favourites in the ''Dundee Courier'', with the prediction that the win could be determined by who won the coin flipping, toss. That view was echoed in the ''Dundee Evening Telegraph'', who also suggested that Oxford were favourites yet "abnormal flooding" would favour the crew who won the toss.
Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge. The race was started by umpire Raikes at 6:15 p.m, in "rain and dismal weather". Stroke rate, Out-rating Oxford by two strokes per minute, the Light Blues took an immediate lead and by Craven Steps they were pulling away from their opponents. As both crews passed the Mile Post, Cambridge were almost clear by two lengths, and despite a spurt from the Dark Blues at the Harrods Furniture Depository, the Light Blues maintained their lead. Oxford trailed Cambridge by three and a half lengths as the Light Blues passed below Hammersmith Bridge and moved into Oxford's water, effectively ending the race as a contest.
Cambridge continued to build their lead, ahead by six lengths at Chiswick Steps and eight by Barnes Railway Bridge, Barnes Bridge. They passed the finishing post ten lengths ahead in a time of 23 minutes 1 second, their first win since the The Boat Race 1939, 1939 race. It was the slowest winning time since the 1877 race and the winning margin was the largest since the The Boat Race 1928, 1928 race. The victory took the overall record in the event to 49–43 in Cambridge's favour. The rowing correspondent for ''The Times'' suggested the "Boat Race was as disappointing as the weather in which it was rowed".
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boat Race 1947 1947 in English sport The Boat Race March 1947 sports events in the United Kingdom 1947 sports events in London
Background
The Boat Race is a Rowing (sport)#Side by side, side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues") and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues"). The race was first held in 1829, and since 1845 has taken place on the The Championship Course, Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London. The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities and followed throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide. Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the The Boat Race 1946, 1946 race by three lengths, with Cambridge leading overall with 48 victories to Oxford's 43 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).
Oxford's coaches were R. E. Eason (who rowed for the Dark Blues in the The Boat Race 1924, 1924 race), P. C. Mallam (four-time Blue between 1921 and 1924) and Guy Oliver Nickalls (who rowed three times for Oxford between 1921 and 1923). Cambridge were coached by John Houghton Gibbon (who rowed for the Light Blues in the The Boat Race 1899, 1899 and The Boat Race 1900, 1900 races), Hugh Mason (rower), Hugh Mason (who represented Cambridge in the The Boat Race 1936, 1936 and The Boat Race 1937, 1937 races) and Peter Haig-Thomas (four-time Blue between 1902 and 1905). The umpire for the race was former Oxford rower D. T. Raikes who had represented the Dark Blues in the The Boat Race 1920, 1920, The Boat Race 1921, 1921 and The Boat Race 1922, 1922 races. Among the spectators were Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and American actress Paulette Goddard. It was the first year that souvenir programmes were sold, the proceeds of which would help to fund the two boat clubs.
The rowing correspondent for ''The Times'' suggested that Oxford could win, claiming they had an "''Embarrassment of riches, embarras de richesse''" while Cambridge "started this year with a grievous shortage of material". In a practice row, the rowing correspondent for ''The Manchester Guardian'' stated that "Cambridge showed much better form" while Oxford "did rather more hard work", including practicing their start from a stakeboat. Oxford were reported as being favourites in the ''Dundee Courier'', with the prediction that the win could be determined by who won the coin flipping, toss. That view was echoed in the ''Dundee Evening Telegraph'', who also suggested that Oxford were favourites yet "abnormal flooding" would favour the crew who won the toss.
Crews
The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 12 Stone (unit), st 5 Pound (mass), lb (78.3 kg), per rower more than their opponents. Oxford saw four rowers with Boat Race experience return to the crew, including J. R. W. Gleave, R. M. A. Bourne, P. N. Brodie and stroke (rowing), stroke Anthony John Richard Purssell, A. J. R. Purssell Cambridge's boat contained just one crew member who had taken part in the event before, in Coxswain (rowing), cox G. H. C. Fisher.Burnell, p. 76 The Cambridge University Boat Club president, M. A. Nicholson was declared unfit to row following a series of bouts of asthma. All participants in the race were registered as British.Burnell, p. 39Race
Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge. The race was started by umpire Raikes at 6:15 p.m, in "rain and dismal weather". Stroke rate, Out-rating Oxford by two strokes per minute, the Light Blues took an immediate lead and by Craven Steps they were pulling away from their opponents. As both crews passed the Mile Post, Cambridge were almost clear by two lengths, and despite a spurt from the Dark Blues at the Harrods Furniture Depository, the Light Blues maintained their lead. Oxford trailed Cambridge by three and a half lengths as the Light Blues passed below Hammersmith Bridge and moved into Oxford's water, effectively ending the race as a contest.
Cambridge continued to build their lead, ahead by six lengths at Chiswick Steps and eight by Barnes Railway Bridge, Barnes Bridge. They passed the finishing post ten lengths ahead in a time of 23 minutes 1 second, their first win since the The Boat Race 1939, 1939 race. It was the slowest winning time since the 1877 race and the winning margin was the largest since the The Boat Race 1928, 1928 race. The victory took the overall record in the event to 49–43 in Cambridge's favour. The rowing correspondent for ''The Times'' suggested the "Boat Race was as disappointing as the weather in which it was rowed".
References
Notes Bibliography * *External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boat Race 1947 1947 in English sport The Boat Race March 1947 sports events in the United Kingdom 1947 sports events in London