The long boat game

[PhilipT]

.. but what on earth does it really have to do with the two Universities anyway ? not much really
about as much as the footballers who play for Manchester United have anything to do with Manchester
which is sweet F A

Not in my experience. I've only ever met one person who was in a Blue Boat crew. He was in the same year as me, doing the same course at the same University. I met him in a practicals lab, where he was trying to do two two-day practicals in one day, on one of the rare days when he was not required to train.

Now, if you have ever met even one person in a Blue Boat crew who was not a member of either University, then I will concede your point. But I strongly suspect you never have. I'm all in favour of free speech, but, Mr GG, you are old enough to learn that those who speak from prejudice rather than knowledge earn nothing but the contempt of their audience. Consider yourself held in contempt.

[MrGongGong]

Not in my experience. I've only ever met one person who was in a Blue Boat crew. He was in the same year as me, doing the same course at the same University. I met him in a practicals lab, where he was trying to do two two-day practicals in one day, on one of the rare days when he was not required to train.

Now, if you have ever met even one person in a Blue Boat crew who was not a member of either University, then I will concede your point. But I strongly suspect you never have. I'm all in favour of free speech, but, Mr GG, you are old enough to learn that those who speak from prejudice rather than knowledge earn nothing but the contempt of their audience. Consider yourself held in contempt.

So are these "members of the University" there for academic or sporting reasons ?

I don't know ? and thought (maybe wrongly) that some people gained places because they were good in a boat ....... but please do correct me if I am wrong !

[Vile Consort]

That might have happened at one time but not now, Mr GG. They have to be good enough academically as well. Although being good enough academically and outstanding in a boat probably does ensure them a place, whereas simply being good enough academically doesn't.

[Flosshilde]

because they were good in a boat

Oooh, I've met some people who were good in a boat - & very racy times we had, too

[Flosshilde]

The Thames is publicly owned.

Is it? _ I'm not being disputatious, just wondered if that really is the position. The monarch claims ownership of the seashore between high & low tide ((I think, or am I getting that confused with rights over anything washed ashore?), so presumably can claim the same rights on tidal rivers?

Even if the river is publicly owned, it's not difficult for a private company to claim 'squatters rights, sort of; see this story -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/nov/13/london-river-park-floating-public-space?INTCMP=SRCH

I think the proposal has been vetoed, but only because it would interfere with the Jubille pageant.

[Nick Armstrong]

Oooh, I've met some people who were good in a boat - & very racy times we had, too

[Pabmusic]

So are these "members of the University" there for academic or sporting reasons ?
I don't know ? and thought (maybe wrongly) that some people gained places because they were good in a boat ....... but please do correct me if I am wrong !

Neither Oxford nor Cambridge awards sports scholarships, so each team member has to be a graduate or undergraduate in some other discipline. That said, there have been some (unproven) allegations that a few crew members over the years have been admitted rather easily to their particular university. That said, in most years there is a fair sprinkling of Ph.Ds. The best known rower in living memory was probably Hugh Laurie (Cambridge 1980).

[teamsaint]

Perhaps the BBC, who love their viewing figures(although only the ones they choose to let us know about) so much, could experiment. maybe they could spend some time and money covering some other event, sporting or otherwise), for a year or two, and see how it works out.
99% of people would never miss it.

Its not even as though there is any real sporting excellence on show.

The BBC has all but given up on sports that are actually popular, like horse racing, F1, etc. perhaps time to confine this nonsense to a news item on radio Oxford and Radio Cambridge, which is about where it deserves to be.

[MrGongGong]

Neither Oxford nor Cambridge awards sports scholarships, so each team member has to be a graduate or undergraduate in some other discipline. That said, there have been some (unproven) allegations that a few crew members over the years have been admitted rather easily to their particular university. That said, in most years there is a fair sprinkling of Ph.Ds. The best known rower in living memory was probably Hugh Laurie (Cambridge 1980).

Ok

thanks for this

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

his blog

his argument was quite lost on sprog and swmbo who were both screaming support for the darker blue boat ...

suppose he had done something to obstruct final exams at Oxyspan Advanced Learning Systems etc .... the kids three years work etc etc ... there is a fair gripe back by the crews but on the other hand the situational objection to elitism would be stronger ...

[kernelbogey]

I think people are interested in this race because it is an example of a combination of team skill and supreme physical demand. Here's Andy Bull in today's Observer:

It is easy to mock the Boat Race. It can seem anachronistic and over-hyped, and it is undeniably elitist, the banks are lined with old buffers in blazers, spilling champagne as they roar support for their old universities. But it is also one of the single most gruelling athletic endeavours in the world, four miles and 374 yards of agonising effort and lung-busting pain. It has broken men before now, as in 2002 when the German Olympic rower Seb Meyer collapsed before the finish line, spent.

Probably more people get to row at Oxford and Cambridge than at other universities simply because all Colleges have their own boat club. (It's an expensive sport, and the clubs have to raise some of their own funds.) I don't see that as elitist.

It's one of only two sports I take any interest in at all, because I rowed for a short while and have some understanding of the enormous physical demands it makes and the beauty of eight oars rowing in perfect time and power.

I was recently chatting with someone about the Olympics, in which I have no interest, and he said he would be watching the Olympics because of the spectacle of sportsmen and -women demonstrating their excellence. I assume that's why people who have no connection with the two universities find this event an enjoyable spectacle.

[Flosshilde]

The BBC has all but given up on sports that are actually popular, like horse racing, F1, etc. perhaps time to confine this nonsense to a news item on radio Oxford and Radio Cambridge, which is about where it deserves to be.

I think not so much given up as out-bid by Sky (who produce such escellent Arts programmes (c. Pee)); the Beeb quite reasonably decided that there was a limit to how much of the licence fee they could spend on such stuff.

[Flosshilde]

I was recently chatting with someone about the Olympics, in which I have no interest, and he said he would be watching the Olympics because of the spectacle of sportsmen and -women demonstrating their excellence. I assume that's why people who have no connection with the two universities find this event an enjoyable spectacle.

That's only one form of excellence - there are other forms of excellence or ways of demonstrating it - that I prefer. Agreed about "the beauty of eight oars rowing in perfect time" - it is beautiful, but there are other rowing competitions that could be covered by TV, or I could pop down to the Clyde at Glasgow Green & watch rowers there.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

If you are a plumber can you ‘store up’ a problem in the office of a conservative think tank office you have been called to?

.... oo er this chap is quite serious! blocked loos in Cameronia!

btw if he had been hung drawn and quartered on the spot the ladies would not have been appeased .... nothing like a spot of metaphorical interruptus to bring out yer inner tyrant ....

i am all in favour of the boat race, a highly interesting public display of excellence and ambition by our brightest and fittest and a perfect opportunity for protests against elitism too ... an all round good thing eh ....

[mercia]

his blog

he has some quite amusing suggestions for anti-elitist guerrilla tactics

"If you clean the bathroom of someone that considers themselves elite or is an elite sympathiser, like a right wing professor, can you never put loo paper in their bathroom?
If you work in a restaurant where elitists eat, can you serve the food once it is cold or cook the wrong food? "

and taxi drivers, take the long route - I thought they did that anyway