| 108th Boat Race | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 7 April 1962 | ||
| Winner | Cambridge | ||
| Margin of victory | 5 lengths | ||
| Winning time | 19 minutes 46 seconds | ||
| Overall record (Cambridge–Oxford) | 59–48 | ||
| Umpire | Ran Laurie (Cambridge) | ||
| |||
The108th Boat Race took place on 7 April 1962. Held annually, the Boat Race is aside-by-side rowing race between crews from the Universities ofOxford andCambridge along theRiver Thames. Umpired by formerBlue,Ran Laurie, it was won by Cambridge by five lengths in a time of 19 minutes 46 seconds. The race featured the heaviest oarsman since theinaugural race in 1829.
The Boat Race is aside-by-side rowing competition between theUniversity of Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")[1] and theUniversity of Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues").[1] First held in 1829, the race takes place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km)Championship Course on theRiver Thames in southwest London.[2] 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.[3][4] Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the1961 race by4+1⁄4 lengths,[5] and led overall with 58 victories to Oxford's 48 (excluding the"dead heat" of 1877).[6]
Cambridge were coached by J. R. F. Best,James Crowden (who rowed twice for Cambridge, in the1951 and1952 races),Brian Lloyd (a three-timeBlue, rowing in the1949,1950 and1951 races) andHarold Rickett (who rowed in the1930,1931 and1932 races). Oxford's coaches were Jumbo Edwards (who rowed for Oxford in the1926 and 1930 races), Ronnie Howard (who represented Oxford in the1957 and1959 races) andAntony Rowe (who had rowed in the1948 and 1949 races).[7] Although the Cambridge crew were favourites on their arrival at Putney, and were reckoned to be "one of the best Boat Race crews for ten years", their early performances in practice did not impress the critics.[8] However, in their final row before the race, Cambridge took four seconds off the record time from the Mile Post to Putney Bridge, covering the distance in 4 minutes 6 seconds.[9]
The race was umpired byRan Laurie who had rowed for Cambridge in the1934,1935 and1936 races,[10] and had gone on to win a gold medal for Great Britain at the1948 Summer Olympics.[11]
The Oxford crew weighed an average of 13 st 2.75 lb (83.6 kg), 2.75 pounds (1.2 kg) per rower more than their opponents.[12] The Cambridge crew saw two former Blues return,bow R. Nicholson, and number four A. J. Collier. Similarly, Oxford's crew contained two rowers with Boat Race experience, including C. M. Davis who was rowing atstroke for the third consecutive year.[13] Two non-British participants were registered in the race, both in the Cambridge crew:John Lecky, rowing at number five was a Canadian Olympic oarsman while AmericanBoyce Budd occupied the six seat.[14] Budd, at 15 st 1 lb (95.5 kg) was the heaviest oarsman to feature in the Boat Race since J. J. Toogood who rowed for Oxford in theinaugural race in 1829.[15]
| Seat | Oxford | Cambridge | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | College | Weight | Name | College | Weight | |
| Bow | N. D. Tinne | Keble | 12 st 7 lb | R. G. Nicholson (P) | St Catharine's | 12 st 4 lb |
| 2 | D. D. S. Skailes | Keble | 13 st 4 lb | C. T. Davey | Jesus | 11 st 6 lb |
| 3 | J. Y. Scarlett | Christ Church | 13 st 10 lb | R. A. Napier | Lady Margaret Boat Club | 13 st 0 lb |
| 4 | R. A. Morton | Keble | 13 st 8 lb | A. J. Collier | Lady Margaret Boat Club | 13 st 4 lb |
| 5 | J. C. D. Sherratt | St Edmund Hall | 13 st 4 lb | J. M. S. Lecky | Jesus | 14 st 1 lb |
| 6 | T. W. Tennant | New College | 13 st 12 lb | H. B. Budd | 1st & 3rd Trinity | 15 st 1 lb |
| 7 | P. C. D. Burnell | Magdalen | 12 st 13 lb | J. N. L. Tollemache | 1st & 3rd Trinity | 13 st 9 lb |
| Stroke | C. M. Davis (P) | Lincoln | 12 st 6 lb | Lord Chewton | 1st & 3rd Trinity | 11 st 3 lb |
| Cox | C. M. Strong | Keble | 8 st 6 lb | R. Walmsley | Queens' | 9 st 0 lb |
| Source:[12] (P) – boat club president[16] | ||||||
Cambridge won thetoss and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Oxford.[12] The race commenced at 3.45 p.m.,[12] with the Dark Blues making a better start and quickly held the lead, as Cambridge had a "sticky second stroke".[17] With both crewsrating 34 strokes per minute, the Light Blues quickly restored parity before taking the lead and holding a one-length advantage by Craven Steps. A spurt from Oxford reduced the deficit to half a length but Cambridge began to pull away again, despite being outrated by the Dark Blues. Another spurt at the Crab Tree saw the two crews level byHarrods Furniture Depository, and as they passed belowHammersmith Bridge.[17]
There, the Cambridgecox succeeded in forcing the Oxford boat wide and into rough water, and took advantage, drawing clear aboveChiswick Eyot.[18] To avoid the breaking waves, Oxford pulled in behind the Light Blue boat and as such, the race as a contest was effectively ended. Cambridge continued to pull away and passed the finishing post with a lead of five lengths in a time of 19 minutes 46 seconds, the slowest winning time since the1954 race. It was Cambridge's second consecutive victory and their largest winning margin since the1955 race.[5] According to the rowing correspondent forThe Times, "for Cambridge this was a most convincing though not unexpected victory".[19]
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