April 2nd, 2012

1. Oxford is in dark blue and Cambridge in light blue

2. ‘Middlesex’ and ‘Surrey’: The clubs’ presidents toss a coin from 1829, ‘the 1829 sovereign’, before the race for the right to choose which side of the river (station) they will row on. ‘Middlesex’, the north station, has the advantage of the first and last bends, while the south station ‘Surrey’ is better on the longer middle bend.

3. The race is rowed upstream from Putney to Mortlake. The Start Line is by Putney Bridge. It starts when the Umpire waves a red flag. The Finish Line is just before Chiswick Bridge. The Bollinger Bar will be there on the north bank at Tideway Scullers Boat House.

4. The Championship Course is 4 miles and 374 yards – 6.779 km – in length. The crews complete it in about 600 strokes and less than 20 minutes.

5. The crews are rowing with the fastest possible current, which lies at the deepest part of the river.

6. 2:15 pm on April 7^th will be close to ideal racing conditions, as the incoming flood tide will start, around one hour before high tide.

7. The Boat Race will go ahead even in severe weather conditions. If a strong wind is blowing from the west, it will be against the tide in places along the course, causing the water to become very rough and bringing a danger of sinking.

8. The crews must keep to their stations, Middlesex or Surrey, and both crews must row through the centre arches of Hammersmith and Barnes bridges.

9. The umpires’ panel consists of four “old blues” from each university, chaired by a senior umpire. They try to ensure neither crew commits a “foul” by warning them to keep to their own racing line.

10. As well as who wins, the time taken to complete the course and the margin of difference is considered in order to beat even more records. Even if the crew trails behind, they still have to fight to keep the margin close.

March 28th, 2012

On 7th April, there will be two Oxford v. Cambridge Boat Races. At 1:45 pm, half an hour before the main Boat Race, the Reserve Crews Boat Race will take place, on the same Championship Course.

We’d like to introduce you to ‘Isis’ and ‘Goldie’, the two squads which will confront one another. Isis, Oxford’s Reserve Crew, is named after the river flowing through Oxford (while the Women’s Reserve Crew is named Osiris). As for the Cambridge Reserve Crew, Goldie, it is named after a legendary 1870s Blue.

Throughout the whole year, Isis and Goldie go through the same training process as the Blue Boat. They have been racing since 1965 and Goldie lead the series with 29 wins to 17 for Isis. Last year, Isis won.

March 27th, 2012

Win the chance to watch the 2012 Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race in The Bollinger Bar with an amazing view of the Finish Line and a magnum of Special Cuvée.

To celebrate Champagne Bollinger’s support of the iconic Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race, we’re giving you another opportunity to win a magnum of Special Cuvée to be presented in the Bollinger bar at Tideway Scullers Boat House at the Finish Line of the Boat Race on 7th April.

For a chance to win this exclusive prize we are testing your knowledge of both Bollinger and the Boat Race. Answer the following two questions with a post on our Facebook page.

1.    On 5th November 2011, which was the fastest four in the 2011 ‘Head of the River Four’s’ between Oxford and Cambridge?

2.    When did Madame Lily Bollinger famously quote: “I drink my Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad.”?

Submit your answers via Facebook post before Friday 30th March at midnight and you could be drinking Champagne Bollinger at the Boat Race Finish Line on 7th April 2012.

Terms and Conditions apply.

March 26th, 2012

2:15 pm. Because it is the best time to row as fast as possible.

Did you know that the timing of the Boat Race occurs according to the tide?

Everything depends on the Championship Course. If it is from Mortlake to Putney, the race is conducted on an ebb tide, whereas, from Putney to Mortlake, it is on a flood tide.

Since the Boat Race Championship Course is from Putney to Mortlake, it is raced on the incoming flood tide.

On April 7th, high tide is at 2:55 pm.

In order to row with the fastest possible current, which lies on the deepest part of the river, it has to be timed shortly before high tide.

The 2012 Boat Race will therefore start at 2:15 pm

March 23rd, 2012

This is the final week leading up to The Boat Race and sees both Oxford and Cambridge train daily on the Championship Course. They have moved to Putney, to their two homes, Westminster School Boat Club for Oxford and Kings College School Boat Club for Cambridge.

The crews can work on improving their starts and their race pace on the Championship course.

The Boat Race Umpires will attend many of these training sessions and oversees all the important practice starts and cox rehearsals.

March 23rd, 2012

England ended their 2012 RBS 6 Nations campaign with a convincing win  over Ireland on Saturday evening, finishing 2nd in the championship  behind the Grand Slam-winning Welsh.

The 21-point win was only their second Six Nations victory against  Ireland since 2003, and they exacted revenge for defeat in Dublin 12  months ago to cap a fine tournament.

After the recent turmoil at Twickenham, few would have expected three  away wins and a thumping victory over the Irish during this campaign,  and this young England side has raised the spirits considerably amongst  England supporters.

They have also caused a headache for the selection panel tasked with  appointing England’s next Head Coach, with interim manager Stuart  Lancaster suddenly the favourite to take the full-time role.

Before the tournament, the RFU would have anticipated a mediocre  campaign under Lancaster, paving the way for them to stand him down and  appoint the more experienced Nick Mallett before the summer tour to  South Africa.

But Lancaster’s brief tenure has been hugely impressive.  He has  restored humility and pride in the players, creating a strong team  ethic  in a short space of time, re-engaged with the English rugby public, and  he now has the full backing of his squad.

Even if a coach with more international experience is preferred, can  they really bring in a new figure and tell Lancaster to pack his bags?
What effect will that have on squad morale, and on the work that has  been done since November?

And what about Lancaster’s assistants in the shape of scrum coach  Graham Rowntree and defence coach Andy Farrell?  England’s scrum was  utterly dominant against Ireland and a strength throughout the  tournament, whilst the improvements in defence have been notable.

Have they made it impossible for the RFU to remove them?