The Boat Race

About this episode

The episode explores the history and cultural significance of the University Boat Race, highlighting notable events and participants.

The Boat Race There are some people to whom there is no bigger event in the sporting calendar than the University Boat Race. It would be a sweeping generalisation to suggest all of those people will be wearing gillet's and yelling received pronunciation support of their particular shade of blue, having started drinking as soon as the riverside pubs opened along the Thames. It is undoubtedly an event that will always be intrinsically linked to the establishment, to the upper classes and all the trappings that go with it. It also isn't always the greatest spectacle in terms of a sporting event, though some years can take the breath away. But it is also very fun, and it has a very interesting history and some notable participants over the years. Join us today for stories of Cambridge wearing pink, "Honest" umpires, heroic Dambusters, three boats sinking in the spring of 1912, Dr. House himself, and of swimming protesters facing the swift retribution of the establishment class. For all its arguable faults, we can't say it isn't fun.

Topics covered

• University Boat Race
• sports history
• upper class
• Cambridge
• Dambusters

Keywords

• Boat Race
• Thames
• establishment
• sporting event
• protesters

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Thames, Cambridge

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