Anu Dudhia (dudhia@atm.ox.ac.uk)
Post race
Gijs Hoen turns out to be Gerritjan Eggenkamp's best friend - Mayer is fine, although his exhaustion in the final stages of the race must have made a difference - The Dunn brothers, uncaught by camera I suspect, embraced together on the gravel when the two Boat Race crews landed - has everyone heard that the Queen Mother has died today? - the Isis-Goldie race was very close until about Chiswick Eyot, then Isis started to take a lead and moved away to win by six seconds, 2.25 lengths - Isis 17:27, Goldie 17:23.
Times to the markers -
Milepost Cambridge 3:37 Oxford 3:38 Hammersmith Cambridge 6:23 Oxford 6:23.5 Chiswick Steps Cambridge 10:11 Oxford 10:12 Barnes Bridge Cambridge 13:57 Oxford 13:57.5 Finish Oxford 16:54 Cambridge 16:56
These are not record times, any of them, although the Milepost to Hammersmith Bridge splits are both inside the record set in 1998 by Cambridge. This year, Cambridge went one second quicker over that distance, and Oxford, just behind them, went 1.5 seconds faster than the 1998 time.
However, it is the third fastest winning time in history, and brings the total to 77 Cambridge, 70 Oxford, as well as dealing a full 7-0 Dark Blue 'whitewash' to the Light Blue camp.
1516
On the rec.sport.rowing newsgroup, Ewoud Dronkert has identified the
swimmer as "Gijs Hoen (completely dressed: in just his club tie)
from Nereus Amsterdam, see
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ewoud/photo/zl2001/l/14.jpg"
1500
OK, that's it (although Rachel may want to add something later).
I hope you enjoyed it.
1447
Oxford cox ceremonially thrown into the water. Doesn't look too unhappy about
it.
1445
Tom Stallard (Cambridge President) collects his trophy. Crews shaking
hands and embracing.
Tom Stallard: "We knew it would be a close race ... we chose
Middlesex because we would have the last bend".
1443
Ben Burch (Oxford President) collects the trophy.
"Not quite sure what happened, just kept hanging in there. Our chance
came about a minute from the end".
1439
Interview with Matt Smith, Oxford stroke (struggling a bit for breath).
"the hardest race I've ever done" (and I can believe it).
Peter Hackworth, Oxford cox: "we just had such belief all year ...
in every part of the boat".
1436
Official times: Oxford 16:54, Cambridge 16:56
1435
Isis wade into the water to meet the Blue boat. Oxford won all 7 of the
student Boat Races against Cambridge this year (although Cambridge won
the Veterans' Boat Race last Wednesday).
1433
The swimmer is shaking hands with the whole Oxford crew (apparently it was a
Dutchman). The Cambridge no.4 is flat on his back but nobody seems too
concerned so I assume it's just exhaustion.
1432
Speculation by the commentators that Cambridge's
big effort to get back on terms
after their poor start may have been what caused them to lose it in
the second half of the race. Someone swimming out to the Oxford boat
(everyone assumes this must be a Dutchman).
1430
Oxford pulling away now - win by about 3/4 L!
1430
Superb effort by Oxford - they're now just ahead. Only about a minute to go.
1429
Cambridge about a canvas up. Just trying to hang on - their no.4 still
out of it. Oxford now level. Quite a race ...
1428
Through Barnes bridge - only a couple of minutes left. Both crews still
battling it out, both still getting warned by the umpire.
Cambridge no.4 man having severe problems (Mayer).
1427
Approaching Barnes - unusual to have both crews still side by side at this late
stage. Oxford now getting credit for holding on around Cambridge's corner.
Cambridge about 1/4 L up.
1426
Cambridge still half a length up on Oxford - Oxford doing well to
keep in contention after so long behind. Oxford overrating by 2/3 pips.
1425
Cambridge pushed up to 37, but hasn't made a huge difference.
However, the final bend around Barnes is starting to work in their favour.
Coming up to the Bandstand.
1424
Oxford looking to be rating 2 pips higher than Cambridge, but still
Cambridge half a length up.
1423
Cambridge looking comfortable and starting to pull out to maybe
1/2 L up. Both crews still trying to crowd each other. Cambridge @32,
which is surprisingly low.
1422
Both crews still rowing side-by-side down the Chiswick Reach, with
Cambridge managing to hold on to their 1/4 L lead as Oxford's bend
runs out.
1421
Cambridge still holding on around the outside of the bend, maybe
1/2 L up. Oxford seem unable to press home the advantage of the bend.
1420
Passing under Hammersmith, Cambridge still about 1/4 L up but Oxford
have the advantage of the corner. Both crews being warned.
1419
Crews close together, lots of warnings from the umpire, but no clashes.
Cambridge still about 1/2 L up as they pass Harrods. Oxford starting
to push as the Cambridge bend runs out.
1418
Crabtree Reach. Cambridge 3:38 to the mile post (record is 3:31),
about 2/3 L up on Oxford.
1417
Cambridge using the bend are now almost half a length up.
Looks to be good coxing by Cambridge forcing Oxford to stay wide.
Oxford now being warned for crowding Cambridge. Both crews @34.
1416
Crews close together, blades almost clashing. Cambridge made a big effort
and now back on level terms.
1415
Oxford now about 3/4 L lead approaching the first (Cambridge's) bend.
Cambridge @ 51 off the start, Oxford at 45, but Cambridge made a bit
of a mess of the first couple of strokes.
1414
Oxford get away cleaner. Both crews diverging. Oxford maybe 1/2 length
up after the first minute.
1413
They're off. Cambridge cox still had her hand up (apparently)
1412
Still adjusting to get the two crews level before starting.
Isis won by 2 1/4 L in 17m27s officially.
1411
Still waiting. Both crews pointing on diverging paths.
1410
Both crews sitting forwards, coxes' hands still up though.
1409
Oxford and Cambridge now attached to their stakeboats.
1408
Showing the finish of the Isis Goldie race. Isis ahead from the start,
beat Goldie by 2L, looking comfortable.
1402
.. Nah, just showing another piece of film with Steve Redgrave and Matt Pinsent
discussing the course and tactics
1400
OK, back to live TV coverage from the river ...
1358
BBC still doing a film piece, although expect Isis Goldie race to be finishing
about now...
1347
RQ is on a launch waiting for the Blue boats, and the BBC are currently
screening some background film on the two crews, so no further
news of Isis Goldie yet (sorry).
1343
Goldie 39, Isis 41. Both way towards Middlesex, out of the stream.
Isis still up as they go out of view, rating one pip higher than Goldie...
1342
Isis (Mddx) and Goldie (Surrey) are off. Isis @45, Goldie @45.5.
Goldie steer towards Isis - move back again.
Umpire warning Goldie. Isis 3-4 seats up
1341
Wind starting to pick up, causing some problems.
Umpire (James Behrends - ex-Cambridge Blue) standing up.
Very large crowds on the banks.
1338
(RQ commentary) Reserve crews getting on to the stake-boats...
Stream already at "normal" Boat Race level and rising.
1337
Oxford using Concept oars. Both crews using new Empacher boats.
Commentator points out Eggenkamp (Oxford no.3), the first Dutchman to row
in the Boat Race who has a large contingent of supporters on the bank.
Both crews now warming up.
1334
Both crews have about 50cm antenna fixed to the bow and stern of
their boats. The back one is a camera, the front one is to relay telemetry
- we'll see how the BBC displays that information.
Commentator notes that Oxford are, on average, 2.5 years younger than
Cambridge (not much difference in weight though)
1332
Oxford at last emerge from their boathouse ...
1329
Josh West (Cambridge no.5) is competing in his fourth Boat Race,
and it's the last one for
which he will be eligible (you're only allowed 4 races as a post-graduate)
1327
Cambridge using Croker oars.
1325
OK, Cambridge finally coming out of the boathouse...
1323
TV cameras waiting, but nobody coming out of their boathouse yet!
1317
McCormack, last year's Cambridge cox, being interviewed.
Says it will either be a very aggressive race or the umpire will put his
foot down (and maybe disqualify someone). Interprets Cambridge's choice
of station as anticipating a long race - expecting to use the advantage
of the final bend in their favour (normally races are decided well before
this point so the advantage is irrelevant).
1315
Umpire (Simon Harris) being interviewed. Lots of contact with the coxes
over the past year - he umpired both Universities' trials races - hopes for not
too much trouble from them in this race.
1313
Matt Pinsent & James
Cracknell being interviewed. Speculating on why Cambridge chose
Middlesex (MP: `a gutsy call'). Doesn't think it's because they're confident
of breaking clear early, but might be concerned about Oxford getting a
fast start. Cracknell on Oxford: get the work on early, very aggressive,
been through tough races [Leander and Imperial]; and
on Cambridge: taller and row longer, better pedigree on paper, but not
much serious race practice.
1307
Well, well ... Cambridge win again (coin nearly disappears over the edge of
the platform, though, until the commentator stamps on it).
Tom Stallard (Cambridge) says there's not
much to choose between the two stations, Ben Burch (Oxford) says, with a
slight tail wind, it ought to be a fast race.
1306
TV coverage just started on BBC1. Introducing the toss, but we all know the
result, don't we boys and girls...
1305
(RQ) It's possible that Cambridge opted for Middlesex knowing that the umpire
this year has decided to move both stake boats towards Surrey to even
out a perceived advantage to the Surrey station in the first minute.
1304
(RQ:) Goldie just boated, Isis getting in.
Starting to cloud over and breeze picking up, but water still flat.
All 4 crews rowing in Empachers this year. Isis looking a lot smoother
than Goldie (says RQ - former Isis cox).
1300
Standard tactics for crews on the Middlesex station are to go off hard for the
first 3 minutes and try to use
the first right hand
bend (generally reckoned at about 1/3 L advantage)
to get clear water over the other crew, after which they can
cut across in front of them and nullify the big left hand bend at Hammersmith.
Needless to say, tactics for the Surrey station are to stop them from getting
clear water so they can keep them wide around the Hammersmith bend (about
2/3 L advantage).
1250
Goldie (Cambridge) also won their toss, but opted for Surrey.
1249
Cambridge won, and select Middlesex.
1248
Going through the spiel about how to call ...
1245
(from RQ over the phone - not yet on TV)
The full crews are coming out for the toss.
Tom Stallard (Cambridge) and Ben Burch (Oxford) shake hands,
making Simon Harris (the umpire) look extremely short...
1240
Just got a call from Rachel Quarrell on the river front (she's one of the
official timers this year) - no breeze at all at the water level although the
boathouse flags are fluttering a bit. Last night the Thames Barrier people
were seriously thinking of closing the barriers (which would have stopped
the incoming tide and effectively led to a "still water" race) but they've
decided to leave things open. They're on "flood watch", though, which is
what the BBC call a "wellie-warning". Anybody parking cars or picknicking
close to the normal high tide mark is in for a rude shock.
1230
The course runs broadly east to west, with moderate right hand bands at the
start and finish and a major left hand bend in the middle. The crew starting
on the northern
station ("Middelsex") has the initial right hand band in its favour,
while the southern ("Surrey") station has the major left hand bend.
1220
The combination of full moon and equinox means that they should be racing
on a fast tide. Together with light winds, not too much land water
coming downstream and two strong, well-matched
crews, a quick race is expected (the record is 16m19s, set by
Cambridge in 1998)
1210
Weather is sunny, warm (17C) and only a light breeze from the
south, so weather's not going to be a factor this afternoon.
In the meantime you might like to read the press articles listed on
the New Information
web-page, or the stories on the Boat Race
Website
1200
Good afternoon. The Presidents will toss a coin for choice of stations
at 1245, the Isis Goldie (reserves)
race starts at 1340 and the Boat Race itself starts at 1410.
