March 12, 1997. Copyright, 1997, Graphic News. All rights reserved

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BATTLE FOR GLORY ON THE WATER 
By Julie Mullins

LONDON, March 12, Graphic News- Known simply as ÔThe Boat RaceÕ, this classic sporting event between EnglandÕs two oldest and most famous universities is renowned throughout the world. In addition to the thousands of people lining the four and a quarter mile course from Putney to Mortlake on March 29, the Boat Race will be watched by some 460 million people in around 160 countries. 
One of the few great amateur challenges left in a world increasingly dominated by highly paid professional sports, the Boat Race has attracted the cream of international oarsmen for over 100 years. Crew members can be of any nationality but must be a student at either Oxford or Cambridge.
Preparation begins as early as October, six months before race day. On average the students will train six hours a day, six days a week over this period, so that for each stroke taken in the race itself, each student will have trained for two hours.
The first University Boat Race first took place in 1829 when Charles Merival, a Cambridge student, sent a challenge to his friend, Charles Wordsworth, at Oxford.
That first race, held in Henley-on-Thames, was so successful that the town later organised their own regatta, which in time became Henley Royal Regatta, the most famous regatta in the world.
The Boat Race itself transferred to Westminster after that first year but traffic congestion in London soon rendered this impractical. In 1845 it moved six miles upstream to the then country village of Putney and in 1856 it became an annual event.
Memorable events have included four sinkings Ð Cambridge in 1859 and 1978, Oxford in 1925 and 1951 Ð and one dead heat, in 1877. 
1976 saw Oxford break the 17-minute barrier for the first time at the start of a long winning streak broken only once before 1993, when Cambridge confounded the critics by beating a highly-fancied Oxford crew captained by Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent. It is now CambridgeÕs turn to enjoy an unbeaten streak Ð  their victory in 1996 was their fourth in a row, winning by two and three-quarter lengths in a time of 16 minutes 58 seconds, the second fastest on record. This extended CambridgeÕs overall lead to 73 wins to OxfordÕs 68, but Oxford still holds the record for the fastest completion of the course Ð 16 minutes 45 seconds Ð in 1984. 

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