University boat race

[excalibur]

The annual Boat race, fought between Cambridge and Oxford has achieved almost indelible immortality, becoming a noteworthy fixture in the sporting calendar. Yet, there still remain those unfashionable and unbearably traditionalist curmudgeons (including, dare I say it, myself.) who insist on denouncing this most revered sporting institution as having become too modernised for it own liking. One corporation who subscribed to this belief, was the BBC, who in 2004, sold the broadcasting rights to ITV, citing that ‘with increased modernisation comes increased commercialisation,’ which, as we all know, from the BBC’s perspective is a disagreeable ‘four-letter word’. One possibly contentious consequence of this modernisation programme is how increasingly cosmopolitan the two universities rowing crews have become, a development which can only be to the detriment of the drive to nurture home-grown talent for the forthcoming 2008 Olympic games and those proceeding it in the future.

Yet those arguing in favour of modernisation, subscribe to the belief that in order for a more entertaining and closely competed boat race, both crews, have to base their recruitment not according to nationality but on the quality of the rowers, irrespective of whether or not their allegiances lie abroad.

I, personally, agree with the former viewpoint, yet what does the boat race mean to everyone else?

[BrumB]

For the first time (am I slow on the uptake?) I noticed how old the rowers were this year. How do they qualify to row? Are they all registered postgraduate students, alumni or what? I think it used to be that the overseas students were usually Rhodes scholars. Commercialisation or not the boat race didn't seem as interesting this year as in the past. Not sure that it is about winning or losing so much as the personalities and allegiances involved. Presumeably people are betting on form and not on which University they support. My mum and I always supported Oxford because it was the first University to admit women. How relevant is that you may ask!

[My Friend Jack]

I wouldn't normally answer like this, but you did ask what everyone else thought!

I couldn't care less about the Boat Race, I'm afraid. It has no relevance to me whatsoever, and it has no place on the TV screens of the 21st century. Transferring it to ITV will hopefully be the beginning of its disappearance from the so-called sporting calendar.

[willow]

I was in Germany on the day the boat race took place this year. I was amazed to see it on the evening news until I realised a local guy from the Freiburg area was rowing!!!

I usually give it a miss.

willow