Figure 1.--Here we see some of the crowd and participants and the Cambridge and Oxford Boat Races in the 1890s. Yjrre eere boaters and blazers everywhere. Notice the boys and a girl wearing sailor outfits. Click on the image for a wider view. This was a large fornmat albumen photograph, by the Stearn Studio, Cambridge photographers which made the trip to London.

Perhaps the greatest on going competition in British society is the rivalry between Cambridge and Oxford universities. It began almost as soon as the two universuties were founded. The University of Oxford is commonly dated to the firstvevidehce of teaching there shortly after the Norman invasion (1096). It really took off when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris (1167). In an early experirnce of town andv gown coflict, some Oxford academics fled north-east to Cambridge where they set up what would become the University of Cambridge (1209). And the rivalry began soon after. The two are among the most prestious and impactful universities in the world. So it was ineviatable that a rivalry would develop. There are no major sports events like in America. Perhaos the most popular annual competition is the the Boat Race, an an annual rowing competation between the Cambridge University Boat Club and the Oxford University Boat Club. It is also known as the University Boat Race and the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. It is kind of a mixed porting/fashioin/social event. It all began as a men's event, but now involves women as well. It is rowed between men's and women's open-weight eights on neutral ground--the River Thames in London. The first men's race was held (1829). It became an annual event (1856). It was only suspended during Workd War I and World War II. The women did not enter the forray until much later, in part because universities were all male institutions. The firstw omen's race was (1927), but for some reason it took some time for it to become an annual event (1964). It wa not for some time for the men's and women's races to take place on the same day (2015). The combined event of the two races has been referred to as 'The Boat Race' (2018). these races attract hugr growds A quater of a million people line up along the river bamks to watch. The competitoirs are young adults, but the voewrs include people of all ages. And of course for many years many of the vchildren wire sailpr suits to the event. In fact the Boat Races became an annual event just as the sailor suit was becoming a major style for children. \ Over 250,000 people watch the race from the banks of the river each year. In 2009, a record 270,000 people watched the race live.[16] A further 15 million or more watch it on television.[17]

Created: 12:12 PM 11/16/20199
Last updated: 12:12 PM 11/16/2019