158th Boat Race
The Oxford (left) and Cambridge (right) boats near Hammersmith Bridge during the race
Date7 April 2012 (2012-04-07)
WinnerCambridge
Margin of victory4+1⁄4 lengths
Winning time17 minutes 23 seconds
Overall record
(Cambridge–Oxford)		81–76
UmpireJohn Garrett
(Cambridge)
Other races
Reserve winnerIsis
Women's winnerCambridge
← 2011 2013 →

The 158th Boat Race took place on 7 April 2012. 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 in London. Despite Cambridge having the heavier crew, Oxford were pre-race favourites having had a successful preparation period, including a victory over Leander. Cambridge won the toss and chose to start on the Surrey side of the river. Partway through, with the boats level, the race was temporarily halted to avoid injury to protester Trenton Oldfield, who swam in front of the two crews. After the race was restarted, one of the Oxford crew suffered irreparable damage to his blade following a clash of oars with the Cambridge boat, ending Oxford's chances of victory. The race was eventually won by Cambridge by 4+1⁄4 lengths, in a consolidated time of 17 minutes 23 seconds.

Immediately after completing the race, a member of the Oxford crew collapsed, but later recovered. Oldfield was later jailed for six months for causing a public nuisance, and as a result of the disruption, security for subsequent Boat Races was increased. The reserve race was won by Oxford's Isis in a record time, while the Women's Boat Race was won by Cambridge.

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, followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide.[4][5] Oxford went into the 2012 race as reigning champions, having beaten Cambridge by four lengths in the previous year's race. However, Cambridge held the overall lead, with 80 victories to Oxford's 76 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877).[6][7] Oxford were pre-race favourites, having beaten Leander, Molesey Boat Club and a German national under-23 crew in the previous weeks.[8]

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 Tideway, on the same day as the men's main and reserve races.[9] 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 Thames, prior to the main Boat Race.[10]

Crews

The trial crews competed against one another on 13 December 2011 on The Championship Course. Oxford's boats were titled Hell and High Water, while Cambridge's two crews rowed in Cloak and Dagger.[11] Hell and Dagger won their respective races.[12] The official crews were announced at the weigh-in, held on 5 March 2012 at a venue nearby the London 2012 Olympic Stadium.[13] For the first time in Cambridge's Boat Race history, their boat featured just one British oarsman, Mike Thorp, who, along with stroke David Nelson and Oxford's number five Karl Hudspith, were the only participants who had featured in the 2011 race. The remainder of the Cambridge crew comprised three Americans, two Australians, a German, a New Zealander and cox Ed Bosson, another Briton. The Oxford crew consisted of a British cox, four British oarsmen, two Americans, a German and a Dutch rower.[13]

The Cambridge oarsmen weighed an average of 7.9 kilograms (17 lb) more than their Oxford counterparts, with Cambridge's cox Ed Bosson outweighing Oxford's Zoe de Toledo by 6 kilograms (13 lb). Despite the fact that heavier Oxbridge crews were traditionally more successful, Oxford boat club president Hudspith, himself part of the successful 2011 Dark Blue crew which defeated a heavier Cambridge crew,[13][14] downplayed the disparity, "It's a big difference but it's a very long race and you have to have the power to carry that weight down the course".[13]

Seat Cambridge
 Oxford
Name Nationality Weight Name Nationality Weight
BowMoritz SchrammGerman91.8 kg (202 lb)Alex WoodsBritish77.8 kg (172 lb)
2Jack LindemanAmerican94.6 kg (209 lb)William ZengAmerican82.4 kg (182 lb)
3Mike ThorpBritish91.8 kg (202 lb)Kevin BaumAmerican91.6 kg (202 lb)
4David Nelson (P)Australian92.8 kg (205 lb)Hanno WienhausenGerman93.6 kg (206 lb)
5Alexander ScharpAmerican95.6 kg (211 lb)Karl Hudspith (P)British92.8 kg (205 lb)
6Steve DudekAmerican109.6 kg (242 lb)Alex DavidsonBritish94.6 kg (209 lb)
7Alex RossNew Zealand102.0 kg (225 lb)Dan HarveyBritish79.6 kg (175 lb)
StrokeNiles GarrattAmerican92.2 kg (203 lb)Roel HaenDutch96.8 kg (213 lb)
CoxEd BossonBritish55.6 kg (123 lb)Zoe de ToledoBritish49.6 kg (109 lb)
(P) – Boat club president
Source:[15]

Races

The Championship Course along which the Boat Race is contested

Women's and reserves

The women's race, the 66th meeting of Cambridge University Women's Boat Club and Oxford University Women's Boat Club,[16] was held at the Henley Boat Races on 25 March.[17] In a close race, Cambridge won by a quarter of a length, in a time of 6 minutes, 38 seconds. Oxford's Osiris won the women's reserve race against Cambridge's Blondie.[18]

The reserve race, between Oxford's Isis and Cambridge's Goldie, was held thirty minutes before the main race, at 1:45 p.m.[19] Goldie won the toss and elected to start on the Surrey station.[20] Despite rating higher and taking an early lead, Goldie was caught by Isis between Fulham Football Club and Hammersmith Bridge at Barn Elms. Oxford's reserve boat held a half-length lead by the Mile Post, and extended their lead to over a length by Hammersmith Bridge. Isis continued to pull away and completed the race in a record time of 16 minutes 41 seconds, beating the previous best by seven seconds, five lengths ahead of Cambridge.[8]

Main race

The Cambridge (foreground) and Oxford (background) crews were level near Hammersmith Bridge.

The race, sponsored by Xchanging, commenced at 2:15 p.m.,[13] with conditions overcast and a light rain, and a light wind.[8] The umpire for the race was John Garrett, who had rowed for the Light Blues three times in the 1980s.[21] Cambridge won the toss and chose the Surrey station, leaving Oxford with the longer outside bend from the Middlesex station.[22] The crews were level at Fulham Football Club and Hammersmith Bridge but on the approach to Chiswick Pier, assistant umpire Matthew Pinsent spotted a person in the water and alerted umpire John Garrett, who stopped the race.[22][23] Trenton Oldfield, a protester against class elitism, had swum in front of the boats as they headed into the final bend, and narrowly avoided being struck.[22][23] A representative of the Metropolitan Police noted: "They almost took his head off".[24] It was the first time the race had been stopped since 2001, and only the second time in the history of the event.[24] Oldfield was pulled from the water onto the umpire's boat, handcuffed and arrested.[25]

The race was restarted some thirty minutes later, after Garrett had been satisfied that both crews were located as close as possible to where the disruption took place, in rough water caused by the flotilla following the race. Within a minute of the restart, the crews drifted together with Oxford being warned by Garrett, causing a clash of oars which resulted in Oxford's number six, Hanno Wienhausen, breaking the shaft of his blade in half.[22] Broadcast footage[26] of the event showed the Oxford cox, Zoe de Toledo, waving her hand and shouting to the umpire as she believed the damage had been sustained within the first 100 metres and therefore that the race should be stopped;[27] as the Boat Race is not run under World Rowing Federation rules[28] this appeal was swiftly rejected by Garrett, effectively ending the race as a contest. Cambridge rowed away from Oxford to win by 4+1⁄4 lengths[8] with a consolidated winning time of 17 minutes 23 seconds.[29]

Reaction

Oxford crew after the conclusion of the race with the number six's broken blade visible.

Post-race

Immediately after the race, de Toledo signaled the umpire and entered into a heated discussion wherein she made a request that the race be re-rowed as a result of the clash of oars and damage Oxford had sustained.[23] This final appeal was again rejected by Garrett who raised the white flag to signify that he considered the matter moot.[26] In an official statement after the race, he said "there was nothing in the appeal to alter the material consideration that Cambridge were correctly on their station at the time of the contact, and that Oxford had therefore been responsible for the foul".[30]

Largely unnoticed while the appeal was occurring, Oxford's bow man, Alex Woods, had collapsed and lost consciousness. After being pulled into a launch and having treatment administered on the bank of the river, he was taken to Charing Cross Hospital, where he made a complete recovery.[31] Oxford's coach Sean Bowden suggested that the loss of one of Oxford's blades had driven Woods to push himself "beyond his limits".[31] As a result of the disruption and the concern for Woods' condition, the traditional award ceremony was cancelled.[31] Woods later apologised to the Cambridge crew and coach for his collapse that "prevented their celebrations" while thanking them for their "sportsmanlike behaviour".[32] Cambridge boat club president Nelson said "I feel bad. Finishing the race there was a lot of raw emotion and some of the celebrations seem pathetic in retrospect" while his coach Steve Trapmore commented "it's not the way anyone wants to take away the win".[24]

The Observer described the race as "one of the most bizarre and dramatic in the competition's history",[33] while The Daily Telegraph suggested the event had been "ruined" and described Cambridge's victory as "hollow".[22] British Olympic Association chairman and former Blue Colin Moynihan claimed that the race was " effectively destroyed ... by the actions of a crazy guy who was hugely putting his life at risk".[34]

Trenton Oldfield

Oldfield, an Australian national, said he was making "a protest against inequalities in British society, government cuts, reductions in civil liberties and a culture of elitism".[35] Oxford number two, William Zeng, denounced Oldfield and described him as "a mockery of a man",[36] while Oxford boat club president Karl Hudspith tweeted "my team went through seven months of hell, this was the culmination of our careers and [Oldfield] took it from us".[25] Educated at the Sydney Church of England Grammar School, the University of Sydney and the London School of Economics, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts,[25] Oldfield tweeted the day after the race, "Having been deep within elite institutions I have a very good understanding of them. I protest their injustices – ask anyone that knows me".[37] On his blog, Oldfield compared his actions to those of Emily Davison, the suffragette killed after stepping in front of the King's horse at The Derby in 1913.[38] Despite later stating he had some sympathy for both the rowers and spectators, he said he had no regrets and that he "would have felt less of a man" had he not made the protest.[39] In October 2012, Oldfield was jailed for six months for causing a public nuisance and ordered to pay £750 costs.[40][41] In June 2013, he was refused leave to remain in the United Kingdom, the Home Office claiming his presence there was not "conducive to the public good".[42] Oldfield, whose wife is from India, appealed on the grounds that she would be threatened in Australia, and in December 2013, the deportation order was overturned.[43] Security for the 2013 race was increased as a result of Oldfield's actions, with Royal Marines, additional stewards and the Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit in attendance.[44]

References

  1. 1 2 "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer. 6 April 2003. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  2. ↑ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014). "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Course". The Boat Race Company Ltd. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "TV and radio". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Sedghi, Ami (7 April 2012). "Cambridge vs Oxford: all the boat race winners listed". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 McConnell, Peter (7 April 2012). "Race report – The 2012 Xchanging Boat Race". The Boat Race Company Ltd. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "A brief history of the Women's Boat Race". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Boat Race – Results". The Boat Race Company Ltd. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Crews announced for trial eights test". The Boat Race Company Limited. 12 December 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Results from the trial eights". The Boat Race Company Limited. 13 December 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Official 158th Boat Race crews announced today". The Boat Race Company Limited. 5 March 2012. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  14. ↑ Quarrell, Rachel (7 March 2011). "Boat Race 2011: Oxford remain defiant despite champions Cambridge leading the way at official weigh-in". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  15. ↑ "The Boat Race 2012: Cambridge outweigh rivals Oxford". BBC Sport. 5 March 2012. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Results". Henley Boat Races. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  17. ↑ Quarrell, Rachel (8 February 2012). "Boat Race becomes 'the Boat Races' as women and men's university events are combined for 2015". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  18. ↑ "Henley Boat Races 2012 race reports". Cambridge University Women's Boat Club. 31 March 2012. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "Reserve race crews finalised". The Boat Race Company Limited. 2 April 2012. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Isis Goldie race report". The Boat Race Company Ltd. 12 April 2012. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "Umpires announced for the 2012 Xchanging Boat Race". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 White, Jim (7 April 2012). "University Boat Race 2012: Cambridge University claim hollow victory over Oxford University in ruined race". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  23. 1 2 3 Quarrell, Rachel (7 April 2012). "University Boat Race 2012: Oxford call for re-race after protester causes chaos on River Thames". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  24. 1 2 3 "Boat Race: Man charged over swimming incident". BBC Sport. 8 April 2012. Archived from the original on 6 April 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 Layton, Joshua (7 April 2012). "Why 'class warrior' brought the Boat Race to a standstill". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  26. 1 2 The Boat Race (Television production). BBC. 7 April 2012.
  27. ↑ International Rowing Federation. "FISA Rule Book". World Rowing. p. 96. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2021. If a crew, while still in the start zone, sustains damage to its boat or equipment then a member of the crew shall raise his arm to indicate that there is a problem. The Starter or the Umpire shall stop the race. The Umpire shall then decide on the steps to be taken, after consulting (if necessary) with the President of the Jury. For the purpose of this rule, a crew is still in the start zone if the bow of its boat has not yet crossed the 100 metres line.
  28. ↑ "Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race". Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  29. ↑ "Statistics". The Boat Race Company Limited. Archived from the original on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  30. ↑ "Official Statements". The Boat Race. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  31. 1 2 3 Bull, Andy (7 April 2012). "Oxford bow Alex Woods recovering in hospital after Boat Race collapse". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  32. ↑ Quarrell, Rachel (9 April 2012). "University Boat Race 2012: Oxford's collapsed oarsman apologises to Cambridge for 'spoiling celebrations'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  33. ↑ Bull, Andy (8 April 2012). "Protester halts Boat Race by swimming into path of the Oxford crew". The Observer. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  34. ↑ "London 2012 Olympics: Boat Race protest swimmer Trenton Oldfield 'serves as a reminder of Olympic Games threat'". The Daily Telegraph. 8 April 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  35. ↑ Pearce, Nick (28 March 2013). "University Boat Race 2013: Trenton Oldfield admits if it was this cold last year he wouldn't have jumped in the Thames". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 June 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  36. ↑ Davis, Lizzy; Bull, Andy (8 April 2012). "Boat race rower blasts protester". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  37. ↑ Pearlman, Jonathan; Evans, Martin; Hough, Andrew (8 April 2012). "Trenton Oldfield: Boat Race protester's privileged Australian education". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 June 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  38. ↑ Burns, John F. (8 April 2012). "Tradition and Boat Race Both Upended on the Thames". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  39. ↑ Peck, Tom (29 March 2013). "No regrets, says Trenton Oldfield, man who ruined the boat race – but don't worry, he won't be back". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  40. ↑ West, Victoria (19 October 2012). "'No good comes from prejudice', judge tells boat race protester jailed for six months". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  41. ↑ Anderson, Steve (19 October 2012). "Boat race protester Trenton Oldfield jailed for six months over Oxford-Cambridge disruption". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  42. ↑ "Boat Race protester Trenton Oldfield must leave UK". BBC News. 24 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  43. ↑ "Boat Race protester Trenton Oldfield wins deportation case". BBC News. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  44. ↑ "Boat Race: Royal Marines to help with security". BBC News. 29 March 2013. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
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