Issue 107 - March 1998

Cambridge are heaviest, tallest ever

Cambridge clocked in as the heaviest and tallest crew since the Boat Race was first run in 1829. Their average weight is 14 stone 13 and three eighths of a pound (94.9kg) and their average height 6 feet 5 and a half inches. With a lighter cox by three pounds and an oarsmen's weight advantage of 13 pounds per man over Oxford, the inevitable question is "Will a good big 'un beat a good little 'un?". The answer statistically is Yes, but in 1989 the Oxford crew won with a weight disadvantage of almost 11 stone (68kg). One two out of three occasions the heavier crew has won the four and a quarter mile race from Putney to Mortlake.

Cambridge's No 5 Toby Wallace did not appear at the weigh-in because of a throat infection, but both crews look good on the water and both expect a fight all the way to the finish in the manner of the 1997 race. This would make a fitting send-off for Beefeater Gin who are in their twelfth and last year of sponsorship, a period when sponsor and the two clubs involved have developed a partnership rarely seen in sports sponsorship. The Boat Race is looking for a successor who will stake a total of 1 million a year to the two clubs.

Cambridge's reserves Goldie weighed in at an average of 89 kilograms, the same weight as Oxford, while Oxford's reserves Isis weigh 88.1 kilograms average.

The full official programme is available with April's Regatta Magazine, available now, or on the towpath on the day.

Oxford

• Bow - *C.P.A.Humphreys (Hampton and Oriel) 12st 11lb
• *J.B.Roycroft (Eton and Keble) 13st 6.5lb
• J.Hecht (Univ of Gottingen, Germany, and Keble) 14st 11lb
• H.K.Nilsson (Univ of Lund, Sweden, and Hertford) 14st 1lb
• E.R.Coode (Eton, Univ of Newcastle and Keble) 14st 6.5lb
• *A.J.R.Lindsay (Eton and Brasenose) 14st 7.5lb
• *P.A.Berger (Univ of Pennsylvania, US, and Lincoln) 14st 5.5lb
• Stroke - *N.J.Robinson (Hampton and Lincoln) 13st 7lb
• Cox - *A.Greaney (Abingdon and St Edmund Hall) 8st 8lb.

• Average 14st three/eights lb.

Cambridge

• Bow - G.Smith (Westminster, Univ Coll London and St Edmund's) 14st 7lb
• P.A.Cunningham (British Sch of Brussels and Caius) 13st 6.5lb
• J.G.Bull (RGS Newcastle and Emmanuel) 16st 1lb
• *B.Crombie (McGill Univ, Canada, and Peterhouse) 14st 10lb
• T.J.Wallace (King Edward VI Sch Southampton and Jesus) 14st 12lb
• *A.Story (Henley Coll and St Edmund's) 15st 12lb
• S.F.Forster (Univ of Dortmund, Germany and Peterhouse) 16st 2lb
• Stroke - M.Weber (Technisch Univ Berlin, Germany, and St Edmund's) 13st 11.5lb
• Cox - A.J.Potts (Winchester, Univ of Edinburgh and Trinity Hall) 8st 5lb.

• Average: 14st 13 and three/eights lb.

* Denotes Blue

© Copyright Christopher Dodd, 1998.