Sunday, April 08, 2007

The Boat Race

It was boat race day yesterday.

It was a lovely sunny spring day and the start, just round the corner from where I live, was absolutely packed. Putney Bridge and both banks heaved with not just thousands but probably hundreds of thousands.

Its amazing that a university level two contestant race for a minority sport that takes less than 20 minutes can bring so many out to watch. Ok, some will be students or ex-students. I was standing by what looked like recent graduates shouting support for my old uni, Cambridge, which made me feel at home.

I think its the combination of tradition with the competitiveness and closeness of the race. It really is open as to who will win. And as both crews were packed with internationals it was a fiercely fought all the way to Chiswick.

And Cambridge won!

Living by the river is wonderful....

5 comments:

Tillerman said...

Ha - you beat me to it. I was going to write a post on "The" Boat Race. I write so much about races between boats but there is only one "The Boat Race".

And as a not so recent graduate I would also be cheering for Cambridge.

JP said...

Cool - what college where you? I was Catz

Yes, off all the racing we do it somehow holds on to the title of "THE Boat Race"

Katinka said...

I love the pics!! (And am horribly jealous of you living beside the river...lucky thing)

Tillerman said...

I was at Queens' from 1966-69. If our years had overlapped then we would have been near neighbours!

JP said...

Tillerman: I was there mid 80s

Kat: I love it here and feel very lucky. More pics to come.....