The Boat Race 1961: Difference between revisions

| margin = {{frac|4 and |1/|4}} lengths

| umpire = G. D. Clapperton<br />(Oxford)

The '''107th [[The Boat Race|Boat Race]]''' took place on 1 April 1961. 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 aThe race which was delayed, where the lead changed hands several times and where an Oxford rower slumped and nearly fell out of the boat,. itIt was won by Cambridge by four-and-a-quarter{{frac|4|1|4}} lengths in a time of 19 minutes 22 seconds.<ref name=results>{{Cite web | url = http://theboatraces.org/results| publisher = The Boat Race Company Limited | title = Boat Race – Results| accessdateaccess-date = 17 July 2014}}</ref>

[[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")<ref name=blues>{{Cite web | url = httphttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/apr/06/theobserver | work = [[The Observer]] | title = Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight | date = 6 April 2003 | accessdateaccess-date = 12 July 2014 }}</ref> and the [[University of Cambridge]] (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues").<ref name=blues/> First held in 1829, the race takes place on the {{convert|4.2|mi|km|adj=on}} [[The Championship Course|Championship Course]] on the [[River Thames]] in southwest London.<ref>{{Cite web | url = httphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/london/10719622/University-Boat-Race-2014-spectators-guide.html | work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | accessdateaccess-date = 12 July 2014 | date = 25 March 2014 |title = University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide | first = Oliver |last =Smith}}</ref> The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities; and it is followed throughout the United Kingdom and, as of 2014, broadcast worldwide.<ref name=CBC>{{cite news|title=Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford-CambridgeOxford–Cambridge Boat Race crew|date=6 April 2014|publisher=[[CBC News]]|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/former-winnipegger-in-winning-oxford-cambridge-boat-race-crew-1.2600176|accessdateaccess-date=9 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://theboatraces.org/tv-and-radio | title = TV and radio | publisher = The Boat Race Company Limited | accessdateaccess-date = 12 July 2014 | archive-date = 8 August 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160808043710/http://theboatraces.org/tv-and-radio | url-status = dead }}</ref> Oxford went into the race as reigning champions, having won the [[The Boat Race 1960|1960 race]] by one-and-a-quarter{{frac|1|1|4}} lengths,<ref name=results>{{Cite web | url = http://theboatraces.org/results| publisher =The Boat Race Company Limited | title = Boat Race – Results| accessdate = 12 July 2014}}</ref> while Cambridge led overall with 58 victories to Oxford's 47 (excluding the [[The Boat Race 1877|"dead heat" of 1877]]).<ref>{{Cite web | url= http://theboatraces.org/classic-moments-the-1877-dead-heat | publisher = The Boat Race Company Limited | title = Classic moments – the 1877 dead heat | accessdateaccess-date = 12 July 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141028142809/http://theboatraces.org/classic-moments-the-1877-dead-heat | archive-date= 28 October 2014}}</ref> Cambridge had not lost three consecutive races since the [[The Boat Race 1913|1913 race]].<ref name=results/><ref>{{Cite news | title = Boat race rehearsal | work = [[The Guardian]] | date = 1 April 1961 | page = 6}}</ref>

Cambridge's coaches included J. R. F. Best, [[James Crowden]] (who rowed for the Light Blues in the [[The Boat Race 1951|1951]] and [[The Boat Race 1952|1952 races]]), Derek Mays-Smith (who rowed in the [[The Boat Race 1955|1955]] and [[The Boat Race 1956|1956 races]]), J. R. Owen ([[The Boat Race 1959|1959]] and [[The Boat Race 1960|1960 races]]) and J. J. Vernon (who rowed in the 1955 race). Oxford's coaching team comprised Jumbo Edwards (who rowed for Oxford in [[The Boat Race 1926|1926]] and [[The Boat Race 1930|1930]]), J. L. Fage (an Oxford Blue in [[The Boat Race 1958|1958]] and 1959) and L. A. F. Stokes (who rowed for the Dark Blues in the [[The Boat Race 1951|1951]] and [[The Boat Race 1952|1952]] races).<ref>Burnell, pp. 110&ndash;111</ref> Oxford opted to row with {{convert|13|ft|m|1|adj=on}} long oars than their opponents, {{convert|1|ft|m|1}} longer than Cambridge's.<ref name=sara/> Cambridge arrived at Putney with a reputation for speed over short distances and were regarded as "potentially dangerous challengers". Meanwhile, Oxford were anticipated to be "exceptionally strong" yet on occasion their rowing appeared to be "laborious", with some commentators blaming the longer oars.<ref name=evidence>{{Cite news | title = Evidence favours Oxford in Boat Race | work = [[The Times]] | page = 4 | issue = 55044 | date = 1 April 1961}}</ref><ref name=delay>{{Cite news | work = [[The Observer]] | title = Cambridge win by 4 1/4 lengths: Oxford upset by race delay | page = 1}}</ref><ref name=collapse>{{Cite news | title = Cooper collapse starts Oxford rot | first = Ian |last = Thomson | work = [[The Observer]] | date = 2 April 1962 | page = 16 }}</ref>

The race was umpired by George Douglas "Jock" Clapperton who had [[Coxswain (rowing)|coxed]] Oxford in the [[The Boat Race 1923|1923]] and [[The Boat Race 1924|1924 races]] as well as umpiring in the [[The Boat Race 1959|1959 boat race]].<ref>Burnell, pp. 49, 71&ndash;72</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/libraries-and-archives/archives/online-catalogues/george-stevens-papers/photo-album/ | publisher = [[Magdalen College, Oxford]] | title = MC:P37/P1 Photograph Album | accessdateaccess-date = 28 September 2014 | archive-date = 18 October 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141018063126/http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/libraries-and-archives/archives/online-catalogues/george-stevens-papers/photo-album/ | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=crushed>{{Cite news | title = Cambridge are crushed by power display | first = Donald | last = Legget | date = 26 March 1967 | work = [[The Observer]] | page = 16}}</ref> He was accompanied in the umpire's boat by [[Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon|Antony Armstrong-Jones]], husband of [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Princess Margaret]], who had coxed Cambridge to victory in the [[The Boat Race 1950|1950 race]].<ref name=collapse/><ref>{{Cite magazine | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=cVUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36 | magazine = [[Life (magazine)|Life]] | title = Introduction to Tony, the Princess's fiance | page = 36 | date = 7 March 1960}}</ref>

The Oxford crew weighed an average of 12&nbsp;[[Stone (unit)|st]] 12&nbsp;[[Pound (mass)|lb]] (81.4&nbsp;kg), {{convert|1|lb|kg|1}} per rower more than their opponents. Cambridge's crew contained two former Blues, cox Roger Weston and rower John Beveridge who was making his third appearance in the event. Oxford saw five members of the previous year's race return.<ref name=burn79/> There were three non-British participants registered in the race: Oxford's number three, John Sewell and Cambridge's Mike Christian and Mark Hoffman were all from the United States.<ref>Burnell, p. 39</ref> The latter pair had both captained the boat club at [[Harvard University]].<ref name=sara>{{Cite news | work = [[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]] | accessdateaccess-date = 28 December 2014 | title = Cambridge wins in 107th Boat Race| date = 2 April 1961 | page = 23| url = httphttps://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19610402&id=YX0fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RGUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5205,366363}}</ref>

! colspan="3" scope="col| Oxford <br /> [[File:Oxford-University-Circlet.svg|30px]]

! colspan="3" scope="col| Cambridge <br /> [[File:University of Cambridge coat of arms official.svg|30px]]

| [[Bow (rowing)|Bow]] || [[Richard Bate (rower)|R. C. I. Bate]] || [[St Edmund Hall, Oxford|St Edmund Hall]] || 12 st 5 lb || R. G. Nicholson (P) || [[St Catharine's College, Cambridge|St Catharine's]] || 12 st 0 lb

| 4 || I. L. ElliotttElliott (P) || [[Keble College, Oxford|Keble]] || 13 st 5 lb || A. J. Collier || [[Lady Margaret Boat Club]] || 13 st 0 lb

| 6 || G. V. Cooper || [[Keble College, Oxford|Keble]] || 13 st 0 lb || J. Beveridge (P) || [[Jesus College, Cambridge|Jesus]] || 13 st 5 lb

!colspan="7"|Source:<ref name=burn79>Burnell, p. 79</ref><br />(P) &ndash; boat club president<ref>Burnell, pp. 51&ndash;52</ref>

Oxford, the pre-race favourites,<ref name=sara/> won the [[coin flipping|toss]] and elected to start from the Surrey station, handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge.<ref name=burn79/> The race commenced at 2.35pm35&nbsp;p.m., delayed by more than 20 minutes as a result of a drifting stake boat,<ref name=sara/> with Cambridge taking an early but brief lead. After the first minute, Oxford led by a few feet and increased their advantage to half a length by Craven Steps. At [[Craven Cottage]], Cambridge spurted and retook the lead, but Oxford counterattacked and edged ahead. With the advantage of the bend in the river, Cambridge drew level by the Mile Post. The Dark Blues once again took the lead, and by [[Hammersmith Bridge]] were four seconds ahead and held a clear water advantage. Rowing into a headwind, Oxford began to looklose "laboured"their shape and by [[Chiswick Eyot]], Cambridge had reduced the deficit enough to overlap the Dark Blue boat, although Oxford still led by a length at Chiswick Steps.<ref name=two>{{Cite news | title = Two Americans inspire Cambridge victory in Boat Race| work = [[The Times]] | issue = 55045 | date = 3 April 1961}}</ref>

Twelve minutes into the race, the Oxford number six, Graham Cooper, "turned pale and slumped", disrupting the Oxford rhythm.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//RTV/1961/04/01/BGY504060006/?s=princess+margaret | publisher = ITN | accessdateaccess-date = 29 December 2014 | title = U.K. : London : Cambridge beat Oxford in 107th Boat Race}}</ref> Although he appeared to recover, "the cohesion had gone".<ref name=two/> Cambridge overtook the beleaguered Dark Blue boat and were three lengths ahead by [[Barnes Railway Bridge|Barnes Bridge]],<ref name=two/> and passed the finishing post with a four-and-a-half length advantage in a time of 19 minutes 22 seconds, the slowest since the [[The Boat Race 1954|1954 race]].<ref name=delay/> It was Cambridge's first victory in three years and their largest winning margin since the [[The Boat Race 1955|1955 race]].<ref name=results/>

The rowing correspondent for ''[[The Times]]'' suggested that "for Oxford it was a sad day, and for Cooper a tragedy", while for Cambridge it was "a splendid victory".<ref name=two/> Cambridge's stroke Hoffman said "it was a tough race ... but when I saw that one of the Oxford crew was in distress, I knew we could not help winning."<ref name=sara/> It was the third time since the war that Oxford had lost the event as a result of a crew member collapsing mid-race.<ref name=delay/> Oxford's [[bow (rowing)|bow]] [[Richard Bate (rower)|Richard Bate]] confessed that he "didn't even know anything had been wrong until after the race. I only knew we were not at our best."<ref name=collapse/>

*{{Cite book | title = One Hundred and Fifty Years of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race | first = Richard | last = Burnell | authorlinkauthor-link = Dickie Burnell | year=1979| isbn= 0950063878 | publisher = Precision Press}}