The Boat Race 2014

Its a bumper weekend of big sporting events. There’s a good warm up act at Aintree on Saturday but the jewel in the British sporting crown takes place on Sunday afternoon along the 4.2 mile stretch of the Thames from Putney to Mortlake - the annual joust between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club.

Oxford are overwhelming favourites this year and rightly so. With personnel of the calibre of Malcolm Howard, Mike DiSanto, Thomas Swartz, Constantine Loulodis, Karl Judspith and Sam O’Connor in their corner, its hard to see anything other than a dark blue win.

as always Manuel my attention will be on the Isis and Goldie crews in the opener, ill post a preview later.

A black day for those of us of a light blue persuasion, as Oxford cruised* to victory.

Did anybody hear who won the hilariously-named “Goonan Cup” this year?

*rowed

A great victory for the dark blues. Just 3 between them on the hall of fame.

Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess, Kim Philby, Donald McLean, Roger Hollis, your boys took one hell of a beating…

Giddy as fuck, heading up to Fulham today to get a good vantage point, my first boat race, a British sporting Institution, a bit annoyed women are in it this year though

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rowing/32203737

Says it all really …

Oxford’s recent dominance also extends to the women’s event.

They have won six of the last seven stagings over a straight, 2,000m course, including last year’s race at Henley-on-Thames.

However, they had to be rescued by a lifeboat last week after getting into difficulties while training in the choppy waters of the Thames.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=webhp&tbm=isch&source=hp&ei=HMsoVYPnK4SS7Abv64DQAg&q=women+know+your+limits&oq=women+kno&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.1.0.0l5.2211.5490.0.6692.12.11.0.2.2.0.249.970.7j1j1.9.0.msedr...0...1c.1.64.mobile-gws-hp..3.9.746.0.gt6iHQgkUjg#imgrc=1Zt5_iLKyhFFvM%3A%3B9tUfsZK9yAGy2M%3Bhttp%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FLS37SNYjg8w%2F0.jpg%3Bhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DLS37SNYjg8w%3B480%3B360

I can’t help but think Crabbie’s would have been a more appropriate sponsor for the women’s Boat Race rather than the Grand National.

Lovely tribute to the great Dan Topolski on BBC1 now. An absolute legend.

@mickee321

A rampant ISIS take their sixth victory in seven years with victory over their great rivals Goldie. Superb bladework.

2 from 2 for Oxford in today’s races. It will mean nothing if they can’t win the big one, though.

And we’re off.

Cambridge on Surrey, Oxford on Middlesex.

Cambridge must make this bend count.

Oxford now with clear water in front of them. Almost impossible to see a way back for the light blues now.

Oxford have it in the bag.

Constantine Louloudis setting a metronomic stroke rate for Oxford. The O’Connor boys rowing beautifully. Coach Sean Bowden following in Dan Topolski’s footsteps.

Oxford laying down a huge psychological marker ahead of Monday’s already-recorded University Challenge final between Maudlin and Gonville and Keys.

Has he not now gone one clear of Dan Topolski?

A quick calculation would suggest he has.

Two victories as Cambridge coach, 11 with Oxford.

“The biggest Boat Race crowd I’ve ever seen”, says Matthew Pinsent. @Tassotti’s presence no doubt helped.