How do you show your team spirit in the Annual Boat Race? Whether you are from Cambridge University or Oxford University, you are probably part of the yearly crowd cheering from the side. But if you are new in the game, here are some things you need to know before the next race starts:
Race start
While festivities usually begin at noon, the actual competition starts a bit later. The pre-game coin toss happens at 1:56 PM. The Women’s Boat Race begins at 3:44 PM, and the Men’s Boat Race is at 4:44 PM.
Free
Unlike other sporting events, watching the annual Boat Race is for free. Spectators will want to bring their umbrellas when it rains during the race. Or they can bring their food, or choose from the pubs and food stands along the venue.
Venue
The race is held at Thames River in London. During the race, fans can watch along Putney to Morlake. You can also secure a spot along Hammersmith Bridge, Chiswick Pier, and Duke’s Meadows, and Barnes Bridge to get a good view. Several pubs also claim to give the best view of the race.
The course runs for 4.2 miles. It starts at Putney Bridge and ends at the Chiswick Bridge.
Competing teams
This race is between the Cambridge University Boat Club and Oxford University Boat Club. There is a separate team for men and women. The Women’s Boat Race only started to join the race in Thames River in 2015. They used to race in a different venue during the past years.
The Cambridge University team wears light blue, and Oxford University wears dark blue.
History
The Boat Race is a 189-year-old race. The race started when two chums, Charles Wordsworth and Charles Merivale, raced along the River Cam. The boat race began on June 10, 1829. For a bit of trivia, actor Hugh Laurie rowed for Cambridge University in 1980.
Now that you know all these, you can enjoy the boat race more. See you next year!
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