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Boat Race provides tide of emotionby Martin Gough - BBC Sport (U2505894) 29 March 2008   Despite regularly being on the riverbank at Mortlake in the immediate aftermath of the Boat Race, I never stop being amazed by the gaping divide in emotion between the two crews. Ryan Monaghan, was distraught after his Cambridge crew trailed in six lengths behind In a sporting world where for most there is always next season, for many here there is not.That’s why Oxford president Nick Brodie – booted out of the top boat at the last minute in 2004, reserve cox again in 2005, beaten in the 2006 Boat Race and a winner with his fourth and final chance – looked satisfied despite having just endured the ritual dunking in the freezing Thames. That’s why Oxford’s 36-year-old Mike Wherley, flanked by his beaming wife Janet, had a satisfied, youthful grin at the end of a career including three World Championships gold medals with the USA. And it was why another American, 23-year-old Ryan Monaghan, was distraught after his Cambridge crew trailed in six lengths behind the dark blues in a gruelling Boat Race. Monaghan only took his place in the stroke seat on Wednesday evening, when Shane O’Mara was ruled out for medical reasons. And he did everything he could, throwing his all into the first half of the race as Cambridge looked to capitalise on the early advantage from the southern Surrey station. But neither he nor the men behind him had enough in reserve to hold of Oxford’s brutal surge along Chiswick Eyot, and they just cracked. Once over the finish line, as Oxford cheered and whooped under Chiswick Bridge, Monaghan was close to tears and cox Rebecca Dowbiggin knelt forward to console him. “I said, ‘It’s not your fault, you did the best you could do,” Dowbiggin related later, looking visibly upset herself. Another half a length and Cambridge could conceivably have won it. They came back from almost a length down to lead by the same margin at halfway but expended too much energy in doing it – perhaps because they were a little inefficient in the first third - and they were unable to get the extra advantage needed to capitalise. They have been training since September – around five hours a day in horrible weather: biting cold as during December’s trial races and driving rain as for much of Saturday. Thirty feet more – over 4.25 miles, after seven months of work – might just have made the difference. It was technique and strength and individual courage and determination Oxford had not been the bookmakers’ favourites for a decade before this race. They are often bigger and more powerful but Cambridge always look better in training.Oxford coach Sean Bowden This time, though, power and determination – and coach Sean Bowden’s always-underrated technical guidance - did the job perfectly. Pre-race talk of the first sinking in 30 years – which always looked fanciful given the technology available to each crew – came to nought as the river was a little calmer than expected. That didn’t stop those in my motor launch receiving a drenching when we rounded the Hammersmith bend but the biggest factor for the racing crews was the strong headwind, which Oxford coped with admirably. “It was technique and strength and individual courage and determination,” said Bowden after his men delivered their sixth win in nine years. “The way we row is really effective in these long races and the headwind. It wasn’t that rough really.” It was rough on Cambridge. Previous Boat Race articles by Martin Gough: Friday: Who will win the Boat Race? Thursday: Cambridge need stroke of inspiration Wednesday: Coxes' test of character Tuesday: Why I love the Boat Race December trials: Oxford’s old stager, Cambridge savour early test In photos: Boat Race snaps on Flickr Latest 10 commentsRead members' comments or add your own
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oli_b_1986 (U7181938) posted Mar 30, 2008 it's such a shame people in this country can't appreiciate a sport without having to have a dig at those who take part in the sport or have an active interest.
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moverShakerjohn (U11379476) posted Mar 30, 2008 In an otherwise supportive comment, 0Darroch suggests that "those two crews are not even the best UK university crews". Given the training they have put in over the past months and the pedigree of some of the rowers, I find this a surprising suggesion. Is there anything to back up this claim, 0Darroch?
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snoopy (U3388516) posted Mar 30, 2008 elitist toffs. why dont other unis participate. why is this rubbish on tv? why is it always the same 2? to john, durham and newcastle have their own race, they would be just as good as ox/camb
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aredeegee (U7017671) posted Mar 30, 2008 I really do think you're being miserable whatsits. Everybody knows (don't they?) that they are not necessarily the best two crews in the country, but this is a sporting feat that warrants attention. It attracts thousands of spectators, has nothing to do with your class (or your brains), but the size of your biceps. It's a bit of tradition that shows that the most popular sports (of which I am as much a fan as anybody) aren't the only ones out there. These lads are athletes, amateurs and don;t seem to argue with referees. THe sort of traits we should be celebrating. If you think it's elitist i would argue that's your own prejudice showing through rather than any on behalf of the sport you're watching.
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aredeegee (U7017671) posted Mar 30, 2008 movershakerjohn, my understanding is that because this race is the be all and end all for them, these crews are out of kilter with the rest of the rowing season, therefore they race other unis and get beaten either because (A) they're not the best or (b) they are training for different distance, at a different time of year. I guess the parallel is horse racing - these chaps are training for the grand national, others for the gold cup, so it's difficult to compare.
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studentgrant75 (U1657902) posted Mar 30, 2008 You really think Cambridge and Oxford are full or Toffs ras and posh kids?
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Donald Donaldson (U7288238) posted Mar 30, 2008 seemed easy in the end..but we all know it isnt.
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CRICKETFAN12345 (U10884057) posted Mar 30, 2008 the boat race has a history of over 150 years and sgould therefore be treated with respect it is contested soley by these two crews and people that suggest that it is the only such race are sadly mistaken as there are many less famous rivalaries
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footle78 (U11376137) posted Mar 30, 2008 If you see a race from a minority sport you want to know a) they're at least decent and b) there is something interesting about it.
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manchestermariner (U6639930) posted Mar 31, 2008 There are other similar rivalries across the country, I row for Salford University and will be competing in the Two Cities Boat Race in May and as somebody said Durham and Newcastle also have a Varsity competition. However neither of these can rival the boat race because of its heritage. To a non-rower I can see that due to the length of the race it may seem a little boring but that's becuase it's essentially a head race course which are always longer and less dramatic. This is why most people associate rowing with multi-lane regattas because they are much more dramatic but for me the changing the format of the boat race, whether that be by adding other universities or making the distance shorter would be a tradgedy. There are very few pure sporting competitions left that can't be hugely affected by money (like top flight football) and that's what makes the boat race special and something this country should be proud of. Comment on this article |
