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The Boat Race - who cares anymore?

(73 Posts)
maryeliza54 Sun 07-Apr-19 09:53:45

Whatever has happened to the Boat Race over time? It used to be a bit of fun between undergraduates.

tanith Sun 07-Apr-19 12:02:08

I always watch the boat race used to watch with my Dad and never lost the habit, I’m a Cambridge fan purely because I was born in Cambridge Gdns. Us kids had a great rivalry in the 50s with the kids who lived in the next street Oxford Rd.

Henley is still held it’s usually early July time.

Theoddbird Sun 07-Apr-19 12:11:31

I still love watching it. Supported Cambridge since I was young. Will time work break to watch it todsy

Overthehills Sun 07-Apr-19 12:14:20

I love all the big sporting events (except horse racing) and I’ll support Oxford as usual - not a big James Cracknell fan anyway.

Booklady54 Sun 07-Apr-19 12:26:45

Henley Regatta is alive and well. I go every year as I grew up in Henley in the 1960s.My father had rowed at Henley in the 1930s and my son rowed there for his school in 2003. It's a lovely occasion even if you have little interest in rowing!

Saggi Sun 07-Apr-19 12:27:18

I care.....come on Oxford. Better then watching perpetual football at the weekend or little men beating noble horses over too big jumps!

trendygran Sun 07-Apr-19 12:44:41

I have always watched the boat race from being a child.MyMum,as I do now, enjoyed seeing Putney Bridge and area near where she went to college in the 30s and where I went in the 60s. We used to go down to the river to watch the start of the race when at college. I have always supported Oxford .

Bijou Sun 07-Apr-19 13:17:53

When I was a child in the 30s it was on a weekday, school day and rosettes and favours were worn by all the pupils. I was Cambridge and my sister Oxford.

Howcome Sun 07-Apr-19 13:20:48

I’ve just tuned in - do every year although it is boring . It reminds me of watching with my parents who didn’t go to Uni but we always watched as a family - so I’m there in the kitchen watching again!!

Anniebach Sun 07-Apr-19 13:21:34

I enjoy watching it.

SisterAct Sun 07-Apr-19 13:40:25

Yes love it and agree with you HannahLoisLuke

NfkDumpling Sun 07-Apr-19 13:41:55

Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridge!!! C’mon!

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sun 07-Apr-19 14:15:48

I used to watch it on telly when I was a child but it holds little interest for me now. If I remember rightly, one year both boats sank and my DH thought it was most entertaining and almost laughed his socks off.

hicaz46 Sun 07-Apr-19 14:25:23

Surely James Cracknell has won his place on merit aa a Cambridge uni student. He wouldn’t have just been shoe horned in because of who he is. Well done to him and good luck to Cambridge. I’ve always supported Cambridge since I was a young child living in Middlesex. It was a big thing in the 50’s and 60’s and everyone wore rosettes in appropriate colours.

lemongrove Sun 07-Apr-19 14:31:56

I always enjoy watching the boat race ( and The Grand National for that matter.)
I support Oxford, come on you dark blues!

okimherenow Sun 07-Apr-19 14:32:00

I used to love it as part of the grand national weekend but don’t really enjoy the huge professionalism and commercialism but I suppose that’s the price to pay for such splendid athletes...

Legs55 Sun 07-Apr-19 14:57:35

I shall be watching, Oxford has always been my choice. I've had a real sporty weekend on the telly Grand National, Match of the Day twice my team won & Boat Race today

Tora1 Sun 07-Apr-19 14:59:41

It's tradition and part of history
I'd like to see Glasgow against Edinburgh
I'm Oxford fan mainly because of Morse hahagrin

Bridgeit Sun 07-Apr-19 15:06:44

I love it, I was lucky enough to be there on the river many years ago.
I love our traditions , the Boat Race , is part of our history & hopfully will long continue .

pce612 Sun 07-Apr-19 15:07:10

I always thought that it was for undergraduates of the universities concerned. Now it seems that they get in anyone.
I am not interested any more as it has lost it's old spirit.

Callistemon Sun 07-Apr-19 15:15:01

Not strictly true, pce612, they do not have to be under-graduates.

However, all crew members are students at the relevant universities.

aggie Sun 07-Apr-19 15:20:22

Is it over yet ?

M0nica Sun 07-Apr-19 15:27:12

The Boat Race was a big deal when there were far fewer events for people to go to. Nowadays there is just so much else on from sport to concerts to demonstrations to go to that iterest is dissipated.

When I was a child events like the Boat Race, Football Cup Final, Derby, Grand National were all huge events that shut the country down to listen or watch them. Now even the Grand National, big event though it still is, takes up far less media space than it used to.

ayse Sun 07-Apr-19 15:27:44

I like watching it. It brings back happy memories of going to Mortlake to watch with my Dad when I was a teenager as we lived quite close. Grandad was a saddler for Mortlake brewery.

NfkDumpling Sun 07-Apr-19 15:30:41

Yes!!!!!!

HillyN Sun 07-Apr-19 15:32:15

I could have written your post too, Cornergran. Both my parents were from Oxford families and there was always a lot of excited shouting for 'our' team. I see we just lost. sad