The 135th Boat Race took place on 25 March 1989. 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 lengths. It was the seventh occasion that the race was umpired by Ronnie Howard, and the first time in the history of the race that both crews were coxed by women. In the reserve race, Oxford's Isis won, while 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") and the University of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues"). First held in 1829, the race currently takes place on the

Championship Course The Championship Course is a stretch of the River Thames between Mortlake and Putney in London, England. It is a well-established course for rowing races, particularly the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The course is on the tidal reaches of th ...

on the River Thames in southwest London. The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities, followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide. Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1988 race by lengths, with Cambridge leading overall with 69 victories to Oxford's 64 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877). The event was sponsored by

Beefeater Gin Beefeater Gin is a brand of gin owned by Pernod Ricard and bottled and distributed in the United Kingdom. Beefeater remained in the Burrough's family control until 1987. It is a 47% or 44% alcohol product (94 proof) in the US, and a 40% alcoh ...

; prior to the race, it was announced that the company would be sponsors for the following three years in a deal worth £700,000. Former Oxford Blue Ronnie Howard was the umpire for the race for the seventh occasion. Cambridge were coxed by Leigh Weiss while Oxford's cox was Alison Norrish – it was the first time in the history of the Boat Race that both crews had female coxes. Prior to the race, Oxford coach Pat Sweeney criticised Weiss: "Their cox is so useless she might hit us. It's not her fault, but Cambridge should have chosen someone who knows the river." Weiss responded "I feel confident that I will make the decisions to make Cambridge win." The first Women's Boat Race took place in 1927, but did not become an annual fixture until the 1960s. 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. 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.

Crews

Cambridge were pre-race favourites, as their crew weighed an average of almost per rower more than their opponents, the largest difference since the first Boat Race. Cambridge's Toby Backhouse weighed in at 16 st 11 lb (106.3 kg) making him the heaviest rower in the history of the event. The Oxford boat featured three former

Blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

while Cambridge's contained five. Cambridge's chief coach was Mike Lees while Oxford University Boat Club selected Sweeney as coach, and Steve Royle to be their full-time director.

Races

Cambridge won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station. After an early clash of blades, Oxford crept ahead and held a lead of three seconds by the Mile Post. Two minutes later Oxford had a clear water advantage and continued to pull away, holding a six-second lead at Hammersmith Bridge. The lead had extended slightly by the Chiswick Steps; Cambridge failed to make any ground on Oxford who swept under

Barnes Bridge Barnes Bridge railway station, in Travelcard Zone 3, is on The Terrace, Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south west London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South Western Railway. It is on the Houn ...

eight seconds ahead. Oxford maintained the lead to pass the finish post lengths clear. In the reserve race, Oxford's Isis won by lengths, their first victory in three years. while Cambridge won the 44th Women's Boat Race by one length in a time of 6 minutes and 20 seconds, their second victory in three years.

Reaction

Umpire Ronnie Howard said "It was a damaging race, and I was looking for possible breakages". Oxford's stroke Richard Thorp explained "We expect it lashingbut Ali orrishhas so much more experience of the Tideway". Former Oxford coach

Dan Topolski Daniel "Dan" Topolski (4 June 1945 – 21 February 2015) was a British author, rower, rowing coach and commentator on BBC television. He studied at the University of Oxford where he represented the Blue boat twice, in 1967 and 1968. In 1977, he w ...

suggested that "the race is a battle of guts and willpower, and Cambridge settled to a steady rhythm too soon."

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boat Race 1989 The Boat Race 1989 in English sport 1989 in rowing Boat Race 1989 sports events in London