Sunday 4 April 2021

Boat Race 2021.



This year, the annual Putney to Chiswick Boat Race will not be held on The Thames, but on The Great Ouse at Ely in Cambridgeshire.

The crews will be racing from the tiny hamlet of Queen Adelaide (the new Putney) to the village of Littleport (the new Chiswick), one of the best rowing stretches on the river, and perfect for racing 8's.

I personally know this water like the proverbial back of my hand, having rowed there countless times; never particularly well. We loaned part of our boathouse to Cambridge's second crew 'Goldie', and often practiced our starts against them. We struggled as they invariably pulled away from us, after the very first stroke. 

In more recent times, in 2016 Cambridge moved into a brand new boathouse in Ely, not far from our headquarters. Ely is about 20 miles from Cambridge.

I do think it's a shame that no spectators will be allowed to watch from the river bank to see Cambridge win later this afternoon, but that's life with Covid-19. We shall all have to watch from the safety of our sitting rooms; unless, of course, you just happen to be dog-walking along the tow-path!! 

Kick-off is around 4pm UK time, April 4th (Easter Afternoon).

24 comments:

  1. Thanks for the reminder. I shall try to find it on TV. Rowing is definitely the most enjoyable sport I ever took part in. Just a shame its not particularly portable.

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  2. That picture has got the bow wave coming off the stern!

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    1. You're right; I hadn't noticed. I loved my rowing days too. Henley, The Serpentine, Cambridge Bumps, etc, all wonderful memories.

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  3. I enjoy watching rowing now. Having grandchildren who row sparked the interest, as I've mentioned before.
    All their racing has been stopped since the virus but at least they can still train.
    Pity we won't be able to follow this race. Not likely to be shown here

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    1. It should be on some channel on Satellite TV. Here it's on BBC1.

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  4. What do you mean watching Cambridge win !! I shall be cheering for Oxford as 2 of my sons were at Uni there. One at Balliol and one at Brookes ! The eldest tried rowing for a very short time in his first year, but couldn't manage the early starts!

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    1. My oldest is an Oxford man. But my affiliations are with Cambridge. We often have a bet together; I tend to lose!

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  5. It's interesting that it is being broadcast. I don't there is a clamour here for rowing to be broadcast but maybe I am wrong. Rowing is so civilised and there is no opportunity to cheat?

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    1. One can steer into the other crew's water, but it's frowned upon!

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  6. I hope it's a close contest.

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    1. I just hope that Cambridge win. They ought to on their own turf.

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  7. Not too windy so hopefully no sinking!
    Cambridge ought to win in their own backyard and living in Suffolk we always support Cambridge of course.

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  8. WELL DONE CAMBRIDGE. YOU MADE ME PROUD!

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  9. I have watched the Boat Race since I can remember. Living near Cambridge, we have always supported them and my brother in law went to Cambridge. They have been on a winning streak for the past few years. It wasn’t quite the same as being on the Thames but it was rather nice to see it at a different venue. ... and, we won ! XXXX

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    1. As much as I love that stretch of river, and know it well, it wasn't quite the same as being on the Thames. I too have watched it since I was small; my father was a rower and competed once in something called 'Doggets Cloak and Badge' (?). I shall have to look it up!

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  10. Great win for Cambridge and lovely to see it in the Fens and the beautiful blue sky and the wide open spaces.

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    1. I'm so pleased they won, it wouldn't have looked good to lose on their own patch.

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  11. Always watch - enjoyed it today - Cambridge were obviously the better in both Ladies and Mens.

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    1. A lot of shouting chez Cro. We really enjoyed ourselves.

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  12. Oxford and Cambridge are the names of two blue clues in the latest Agatha Christie audiobook I'm ironing to.

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    1. What is the book called? I've always liked AC.

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  13. I watched both races - women and men and both were exciting. The men's umpire, Sarah Winckless, kept yelling "Cambridge! CAMBRIDGE!". She should have yelled, "Cambridge! If you do not get back in line I will beat you with a cricket bat! Naughty boys Cambridge! CAMBRIDGE!"

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    1. I thought the Oxford ladies behaved far worse than the Cambridge men. I would have disqualified them; or put them all on a ducking stool.

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