The Boat Race 2021

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The Boat Race 2021

Date 4 April 2021

Men's race

Winner Cambridge

Margin of victory Almost a length

Overall record 85–80

(Cambridge–Oxford)

Umpire Sarah Winckless

Women's race

Winner Cambridge

Margin of victory Almost a length

Winning time 16:29

Overall record 45–30

(Cambridge–Oxford)

Umpire Judith Packer

← 2019 2022 →
← 2020

The Boat Race 2021 was a side-by-side rowing race that took place on 4 April 2021.
Held annually, The Boat Race is contested between crews from the universities
of Oxford and Cambridge usually along a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) tidal stretch of the River
Thames in south-west London. This was the 75th women's race and the 166th men's
race, with the 2020 race having been cancelled as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic in the United Kingdom. Cambridge led the longstanding rivalry 84–80 and
44–30 in the men's and women's races, respectively.
The 2021 race took place on the River Great Ouse near Ely, Cambridgeshire,
between Queen Adelaide Bridge and Sandhill Bridge, Littleport, rather than the
traditional Championship Course in London. The crews were announced on 25
March 2021. It was the first time in the history of the event that both the women's and
men's races were officiated by female umpires, in Judith Packer and Sarah
Winckless respectively. The reserve races are to be held at a later date in Ely.
Cambridge's women's crew were considered strong favourites to win their race.
Oxford's women's crew took an early lead but Cambridge responded to win. Oxford's
men were slight favourites to defeat Cambridge, but failed to do so: Cambridge won
the men's race by just under one length.

Contents

 1Background
 2Coaches
 3Trials
o 3.1Women
o 3.2Men
 4Crews
o 4.1Women
o 4.2Men
 5Races
o 5.1Women's
o 5.2Men's
o 5.3Reaction
 6References
 7External links

Background[edit]
The 2021 race (course depicted) was held on the River Great Ouse.

The Boat Race is a side-by-side rowing competition between the University of

Oxford (sometimes referred to as the "Dark Blues")[1] and the University of
Cambridge (sometimes referred to as the "Light Blues").[1] First held in 1829, the race
has usually taken place on the 4.2-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course,
between Putney and Mortlake on the River Thames in south-west London.[2] The
2020 event was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United
Kingdom.[3][4] For 2021, the race was held behind closed doors along a section of
the River Great Ouse in Ely, Cambridgeshire.[5][6] The organisers noted that the move
to Ely was not only due to COVID-19, but also safety concerns relating
to Hammersmith Bridge.[7] It will be the second time in the event's 191-year history
that the race has taken place in Ely: [8] the previous occasion was an unofficial
wartime staging of the event, which Oxford's men won by three-quarters of a length.
[9]
 The 2021 course will start at the stone marking the end of the 1944 race, and
proceed along a 4,890-metre (5,350 yd) long course, from the Adelaide Bridge
towards Littleport.[10] For 2021, only the men's and women's races are scheduled to
take place on the same day, with the women's race to start around 3:50 p.m. and the
men's race an hour later. As of March 2021, the reserves races are yet to be
scheduled.[11]
The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities; the race is
followed throughout the United Kingdom and broadcast worldwide. [12][13] Cambridge's
men went into the race as champions, having won the 2019 race by a margin of one
length,[14] and lead overall with 84 victories to Oxford's 80 (excluding the 1877 race, a
dead heat).[15][16] Cambridge's women were also victorious in 2019, winning by five
lengths,[17][18] which took the overall record in the Women's Boat Race to 44–30 in their
favour.[14][17]
In May 2020, the University of Cambridge's three boat clubs, Cambridge University
Boat Club, Cambridge University Women's Boat Club and Cambridge University
Lightweight Rowing Club, agreed to merge into a single club under the Cambridge
University Boat Club (CUBC) name, with Callum Sullivan as the Men's President and
Sophie Paine the Women's President. [19] Alex Bebb is the Oxford University Boat
Club (OUBC) president and Kaitlyn Dennis is the Oxford University Women's Boat
Club (OUWBC) president.[20] The 75th women's race will be umpired by international
rowing judge Judith Packer, while the 166th men's race will be officiated by Olympic
bronze medallist Sarah Winckless.[21] Both had been selected for the aborted 2020
event, and it will be the first time in the history of the event that women will oversee
both main races.[21]
The main races were streamed live on YouTube. [22] They were also broadcast on
television channels in the United Kingdom (BBC One), Canada (TSN2), Israel (Sport
3), New Zealand (Sky Sport 9), Spain (Teledeporte) and throughout most of Africa
(SuperSport).[23]
The event was described as being "overshadowed" after allegation of sexual assault;
the women's crews intended to wear ribbons, to signify support for sexual assault
victims.[24][25]

Coaches[edit]
Sean Bowden was the chief coach for OUBC, having been responsible for the senior
men's crew since 1997, winning 12 from the last 18 races. He is a former Great
Britain Olympic coach and coached the Light Blues in the 1993 and 1994 Boat
Races. His assistant coach is Brendan Gliddon, a South African who formerly
coached under-23 and FISU teams for both South Africa and Great Britain. Alex
Bowmer is OUBC's physical therapist.[26] The OUWBC chief coach was Andy Nelder,
who previously worked with Bowden and OUBC for eleven years. He was assisted
by James Powell.[27]
The Cambridge men's crew coaching team was led by their chief coach, Rob Baker,
who had previously coached Cambridge's women to victories in both
the 2017 and 2018 races, and Cambridge's men to a win in 2019. Cambridge
women's chief coach is Robert Weber, who joined Cambridge University before the
2019 race from Hamilton College in New York, where he was Head Rowing Coach
and Associate Professor of Physical Education. CUBC's assistant coaches were
Paddy Ryan, Katy Knowles, Nick Acock and Jordan Stanley. [28]

Trials[edit]
In order to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the trials took place on the
Great Ouse behind closed doors and featured no pre-race social media or
marketing. Cambridge trials took place on 17 December with Oxford's races being
staged two days later.[29] Because of restrictions imposed by the university, Oxford
had been prevented from practising on water until 11 December. [30] As a result of
changes to the UK's COVID-19 tier system, neither Winckless nor Packer were able
to travel to Ely and both of Oxford's trial races were umpired by Kath Finucane, the
reserve race official.[30]
Women[edit]
The CUBC women's trial featured the boats Hakuna and Matata, named after
the Swahili phrase which approximates to "no worries" used in The Lion King film. In
fine conditions and umpired by Packer, Matata made the better start to lead by half a
length at 500 m. At the inlet from the River Lark, Hakuna's cox moved his boat into
the middle of the river to take advantage of the faster flowing stream. They took the
lead around the 3,000 m mark and pulled away to win in a time of 16 minutes 5
seconds, two lengths ahead of Hakuna.[29][31]
OUWBC's trial boats were named after two of the pharmaceutical companies
developing COVID-19 vaccines: Pfizer and AstraZeneca.[30][32] Pfizer took an early lead
and held an advantage of three-quarters of a length. Steering too closely to their
opponents, Pfizer clashed oars with AstraZeneca and were warned by Finucane.
Five minutes into the race, Pfizer held a two-length lead and moved to the centre of
the river. They extended their lead to three lengths before AstraZeneca reduced the
deficit by half a length. As the crews passed the finishing line, Pfizer won with a
three-length lead over AstraZeneca.[29]
Men[edit]
CUBC men's trial featured boats named Henry I and 10,000 Eels to reflect Henry I's
annual order of lampreys from Ely. Officiated by Winckless, both crews started
strongly with Henry I holding a half-length lead after 500 m. They extended their lead
by a quarter of length by 750 m and their cox attempted to move across to the centre
of the river, receiving multiple warnings from Winckless. 10,000 Eels held their line
and pulled back to within half a length by 1,250 m and while both crews pushed for
the final 500 m, Henry I crossed the finishing line in 14 minutes 4 seconds, one third
of a length ahead.[31]
The OUBC trial boats were named Track and Trace, after the NHS Test and
Trace system designed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Trace took an early
lead in a race which was initially dominated by oar clashes. Track began to reduce
the deficit as the crews passed the Lark, and following another clash, took the lead
and held clear water advantage with 1,000 m to go. Track went on to beat Trace by
two lengths.[30]

Crews[edit]
The crews for both senior boats were announced on 25 March 2021, using
a Zoom call.[33] The Cambridge women were considered strong favourites to win their
race while Oxford's men were favoured to win.[34]
Women[edit]
Women's crews[33][35][36]

Oxford Cambridge

Seat

Name Nationality College Name Nationality College

Katie Adriana Perez

Bow British Brasenose Spanish Newnham
Anderson Rotondo

Anja Green Sarah

2 American British Newnham
Zehfuss Templeton Portsmouth

Megan
3 British St Peter's Abba Parker American Emmanuel
Stoker

Amelia Caoimhe
4 British St Anne's Irish Newnham
Standing Dempsey

Martha Anouschka Lucy

5 British Mansfield British
Birtles Fenley Cavendish
 Georgina Harris Sophie Paine British/Bahamia
6 British Girton
Grant Manchester (P) n

Julia Gonville and

7 British St Cross Bronya Sykes British
Lindsay Caius

Strok Katherine Lucy

British St Hughs Sarah Tisdall Australian
e Maitland Cavendish

Dylan
Cox Costi Levy British/Italian Exeter British King's
Whittaker

(P) – Boat club president; Kaitlyn Dennis was the non-rowing President of OUWBC [37]

Men[edit]
Men's crews[33][38]

Oxford Cambridge

Seat

Name Nationality College Name Nationality College

James Theo
Bow British Pembroke British St John's
Forward Weinberger

Alex Bebb Gonville

2 Canadian St Peter's Ben Dyer British
(P) and Caius

Martin Seb
3 Canadian Kellogg British Jesus
Barakso Benzecry

Lady
Felix Quinten
4 British Margaret Canadian Fitzwilliam
Drinkall Richardson
Hall

5 Tobias Estonian/Britis Magdalen Garth South African St Edmund's

 Schröder h Holden

Jean-Philippe
6 Swiss/Canadian Lincoln Ollie Parish British/Canadian Peterhouse
Dufour

Joshua
Callum
7 Bowesman- British Keble British Peterhouse
Sullivan (P)
Jones

Augustin St
Stroke Belgian Drew Taylor American Clare
Wambersie Catherine's

Charlie
Cox Jesse Oberst American Pembroke British Trinity
Marcus

(P) – Boat club president

Races[edit]
Conditions on race day were reasonably clement with a temperature of 16 °C
(61 °F), clear skies but windy.[39]
Women's[edit]
Cambridge won the toss and elected to start on the west side of the river. [39] After a
brief delay while both cox's indicated they were ready to start, the race commenced
at 3:53 p.m. Early on Oxford were warned by Packer for encroaching into
Cambridge's water and were instructed to steer away, while Cambridge took a slight
lead. Both boats were in close proximity to one another and four minutes in, Oxford
held a slight advantage, although Packer continued to warn the Dark Blue cox. After
seven minutes, Oxford were around a third of a length ahead as Cambridge started a
push, taking a lead with fourteen minutes of the race gone. The Light Blues held a
length's lead a minute later and although Oxford remained in touch, Cambridge
passed the finishing line first.[34] It was Cambridge's fourth consecutive victory and
took the overall record in the event to 45–30 in their favour. [14]
Men's[edit]
Oxford took the west side of the river.[39] The men's race started at 4:53 p.m. with
Oxford rating slightly higher than their opponents, but falling behind. Within two
minutes, Cambridge were almost a length ahead but were warned several times by
Winckless for encroachment. Four minutes in, she issued a warning to both crews of
potential debris in the river ahead which both crews navigated without issue. Oxford
then went for a push in the sixth minute but Cambridge remained in the lead,
although down to half a length. On ten minutes, Cambridge pushed before Oxford
reciprocated two minutes later and with less than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) remaining,
the Dark Blues began to reduce the deficit. Cambridge passed the finishing line first,
winning by almost one length.[34] It was Cambridge's fourth victory in the last five
races, and took the overall record in the event to 85–80 in their favour. [14]
Reaction[edit]
According to tradition, both winning coxes were thrown into the river, however this
year they were followed by the victorious crews. [40] Sarah Tisdall, Cambridge's stroke,
was magnanimous in victory: "Awesome race, massive congrats to Oxford. That's
the closest boat race the females have had." [41] The Cambridge women's president
Sophie Paine received the trophy and noted that "I think this is absolutely historic for
women. So many of us have been training for this for two years now, and it means
so much for us to have that pay off."[39]
James Cracknell suggested that the Oxford men's cox should have "steered into
those reeds and forced a restart".[34] The bow for Cambridge men's boat, Theo
Weinberger, suggested that he would "dream of this moment ... it's two years' worth
of training and hard work ... there's anything you can quite compare it
to."[42] Cambridge's men's president Callum Sullivan described the season as
"fantastically unique".[39]
The winning margin in both races was less than one length, which was the closest in
the men's race since 2003 and the women's race since 2011.[39]

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:    "Dark Blues aim to punch above their weight". The Observer. 6 April
a b

2003.  Archived  from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 9 July2014.

2. ^ Smith, Oliver (25 March 2014).  "University Boat Race 2014: spectators' guide". The
Daily Telegraph.  Archived  from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July  2014.
3. ^ "The Boat Race has been cancelled due to Coronavirus".  ITV. 16 March
2020.  Archived  from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March2020.
4. ^ Gold, Harry (16 March 2020).  "Coronavirus updates as Boat Race 2020 between
Cambridge and Oxford is cancelled".  Cambridge News. Archived from the original on 1
April 2020. Retrieved  31 May  2020.
5. ^ "The 2021 Boat Race to take place on 4 April 2021". The Boat Race Company Limited.
3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved  29
December 2020.
6. ^ "The Boat Race 2021 to be raced at Ely, Cambridgeshire". The Boat Race Company
Limited. 26 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021.
Retrieved 29 December 2020.
7. ^ "Boat Race: 2021 races to be moved from the Thames to Ely over safety
concerns".  BBC Sport. 26 November 2020.  Archived  from the original on 16 January
2021. Retrieved  29 December  2020.
8. ^ The Boat Race, p. 4
9. ^ "The Boat Race – Oxford's victory".  The Times. 28 February 1944. p.  2. Retrieved  2
May 2015.
10. ^ "Oxford and Cambridge Trial Eights Races". The Boat Race Company Limited. 29
December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved  31
December 2020.
11. ^ "Gemini Boat Race – media pack"  (pdf). Boat Race Company Limited. pp. 1,
5. Archived  (PDF)  from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 27 March  2021.
12. ^ "Former Winnipegger in winning Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race crew". CBC News. 6
April 2014.  Archived  from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 9 July  2014.