The Boat Race 1997

Background

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. First held in 1829, the competition is a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) race along 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. Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions, having won the 1996 race by two-and-three-quarter lengths, and led overall with 73 victories to Oxford's 68 (excluding the "dead heat" of 1877). The race was the last to be sponsored by Beefeater Gin.

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

The weigh-in was held at the Hurlingham Club on 24 March 1997. The Cambridge crew, pre-race favourites, weighed an average of 1 pound (0.45 kg) more per rower than Oxford, with Cambridge's Alex Story the heaviest man in the race at 16 stone (100 kg). The crews were the tallest in the history of the race, with Cambridge averaging 6 ft 5.25 in (1.96 m) to Oxford's 6 ft 4.5 in (1.94 m). Oxford's Roberto Blanda became the first Blue from Italy. Cambridge's crew featured three former Blues, while Oxford's crew contained none.

Cambridge were coached once again by Robin Williams, while Oxford were guided by Dutchman René Mijnders, who had led the Netherlands to Olympic gold in Atlanta in the men's eight.

Race description

Oxford's non-rowing boat club president Ed Bellamy won the toss and selected the Surrey station as the starting point for his crew, Cambridge therefore started from the Middlesex station. Immediately from the start, Cambridge cox Kevin Whyman steered into the Oxford water, closing the lateral gap between the boats and securing a series of warnings from race umpire Tom Cadoux-Hudson. Oxford held a lead of a few feet round the Fulham bend, but the crews were level at the mile post. By Hammersmith Bridge, Oxford had pulled away marginally to hold a one-third length lead, but superior steering by Whyman around the Surrey bend pulled Cambridge back into contention, level by the Chiswick Steps, and a length ahead by Barnes Bridge. Moving across, Cambridge took Oxford's clear water and passed the finishing post six seconds and two lengths ahead. It was Cambridge's fourth consecutive victory and took the overall record to 74–68 in their favour. By the end of the race, umpire Cadoux-Hudson had issued 132 warnings to the crews.

In the reserve race, Cambridge's Goldie beat Oxford's Isis by six-and-a-half lengths, and in the 52nd running of the Women's Boat Race, Cambridge also triumphed.

Reaction

Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave presented Cambridge with the Beefeater Trophy and both crews with their medals. Oxford's coach Mijnders said "After the big bend, Cambridge were actually flying ... the further the race went on, the better Cambridge rowed". Cambridge coach Williams noted "Some of our boys took some stick in the press, but they responded to the pressure and were brilliant." Oxford's stroke and Olympic bronze medallist Tim Foster told his crew "We'll always remember we lost the Boat Race, but don't forget we are still good rowers." Cadoux-Hudson stated in an interview that there were two occasions where the blades clashed: "Cambridge were being warned on one occasion and Oxford on the other, so I think it equalled out at the end. I don't think it affected the outcome".