Race Rules

1. The race shall be rowed under the rules for the University Boat Race, except as set out below. 2. Eligibility. The crews shall be selected from full graduates of the University (and any full Rowing Blues without that qualification), who have passed their 35th birthday on the day of the race. [A full graduate is one who has been admitted to the senior membership of the University following the successful completion of an undergraduate course of at least three years, or a Masters’ or Doctors’ course of at least two years.] The average age of the oarsmen shall be not less than 42 yrs, measured on the day of the Race. For safety reasons there is no age limit on cox’ns, who must be experienced in Tideway conditions. 3. Course. This year’s race will be from the Boat Race start, the Putney Stone, to Furnivall Steps, being that line where the two bends equal out. A flagman will be stationed to mark the finish line for the Race Umpire, and to judge the winning distance.

Any verdict within six feet shall be declared a dead heat.

Thank You

-to the Presidents of the OUBC and CUBC for permission to mount a representative event. -to the University Boat Clubs and The Boat Race Company Ltd. for their support. -to Tony Reynolds Esq. for acting as start judge.

-to Rachel Quarrell for acting as official timer and race reporter. -to Hugh Matheson Esq. and Johnny Moulsdale Esq. for acting as finish judges. -to the CUBC spare pair, Jonty Page and Tim Nugent, for acting as flagmen. -to our long-suffering families for all the usual reasons.

The twenty-third

Oxford & Cambridge Veterans’ Race

Friday 23rd March 2018 at 2.30 pm

Putney Stone to Furnivall Steps

Umpire: Sir Matthew Pinsent

Cambridge – Champions

Bow Nicholas English 39 L00, 01, N02, 03, O04, N05 2 Tom Middleton 40 L96, N97,98,99, 01, O00 3 David Dix 50 Pembroke 92, Rugby B91,92 4 Jonathon Davies 35 G04 5 Toby Backhouse 48 B89 6 Richard Smith 48 G90, 92, B91 7 Stephen Fowler 48 B90,92, G91 Stroke Matthew Parish 46 B94,95, N93,94,95, O96 Cox Ed Bosson B12 Reserves Sean Gorvy 55 G86, 87, N87 Paul Wright 57 G82,83, N87 Coaches Donald Legget and Richard Phelps

Average age: 44 Average weight: 13st 11lb.

Oxford – Challengers

Bow Hugh Pelham 51 B87, 88, I89 2 Richard Shirley 48 Squad 91 3 Andrew Brennan 35 N04, I05, 06 4 Ian Weighell 42 N93,95,98, B01 5 Robin Bourne-Taylor 37 B01, 02, 03, 05, O04, O08 6 Toby Ayer 43 I97,98, B99,00 7 Ed Bellamy 46 B96, I97 Stroke Tom Solesbury 37 B09, O08, O12 Cox Peter Hackworth I01, B02 Reserves Roberto Blanda 47 N89, 90, 91, 95 O92, 96, B97 Nick Holland 57 I80, B82

Average age: 42 Average weight: 14st 2lb.

B – Blue; L – Lightweight ½ Blue; I/G - Reserve crew; O – Olympic Team N – International Team; W –Women’s Blue

Race Records

This is the twenty-third Veterans’ Boat Race. For all but one year (2008) the qualifying average age has been age 42 on the day of the Race. After losing a close race in 2016 and disqualification in 2017, we see Oxford once again as Challengers bringing youth, weight and international representation to their side. Newcomer former internationals to the Race, American Andrew Brennan and Ian Weighell, support returning Olympians Tom Solesbury and Robin Bourne-Taylor. We welcome back Toby Ayer, champion juggler, who has made the trip across the Atlantic. Not to be outdone, the defending Champions Cambridge include returning Olympians Tom Middleton and Matthew Parish who are joined by newcomer Nicholas English who since the Athens Games has won national honours on the boards of the velodrome. Another newcomer Jonathon Davies is the youngest in the Race whilst the only rugby Blue to participate in the event David Dix makes a return. Ed Bosson makes his debut on the Veteran Light Blue “strings” and hopes not to repeat the swimmer incident of 2012! Sean Gorvy organised the race. Nick Holland and Jonny Searle convened the Oxford crew.

Previous Years Of the twenty-two races Oxford have won 7 and Cambridge 15.

2015 Oxford won the toss and unsurprisingly chose Surrey to make the most of the initial bend for this race, in the reverse direction from Furnivall to Putney, which they took advantage of, starting fast and shooting Hammersmith Bridge 4 men ahead, extending this to almost a length by Harrods. Cambridge pushed hard to hold the distance but Oxford pressed on at the Mile to almost 4 lengths by Barn Elms. Whilst Cambridge reduced this margin down the moored boats, the result was never in doubt. Win to Oxford by 2 ¾ lengths in 7 mins 52 seconds.

2016 Oxford won the toss and bravely chose Surrey despite the initial bend in Cambridge’s favour. Cambridge recognised the need for an early lead and stayed high-rating for longer, giving them a couple of early seats. With nothing in the margin at the Black Buoy, Cambridge put in a big push ending up with a ¾ length advantage by Barn Elms and extending this to 2 seconds by the Mile Post. Oxford then dug in, clawing back the margin and with Cambridge being forced to steer out as they passed the Harrods Depository, it was a matter of seats in it at Hammersmith Bridge as the crews pursued a flat-out dog fight to the line, Cambridge just managing to hold on. Win to Cambridge by a canvas in 7 mins 19 seconds. 2017 Oxford won the toss and chose Middlesex with clear intent to gain an early lead: their punch was in evidence from the start, gaining clear water by the Black Buoy and extending this to two lengths as the two eights passed Fulham Football Ground. Whilst Oxford were six seconds ahead by the Mile Post, Cambridge now began to inch back and closed rapidly along the Harrods Depositary. A remarkable recovery was underway with the crews overlapping as they passed under Hammersmith Bridge. However, after a prolonged series of warnings from the umpire for Oxford, the blades interlocked causing the Cambridge 3 man to catch a crab allowing Oxford to cross the finish line ahead. The umpire, former Oxford Blue Sir Matthew Pinsent, had no alternative but to disqualify the Dark Blues. Win to Cambridge by disqualification. Cambridge’s time: 7 mins 51 seconds.