ROWING.
Oxford put up a high quality effort last Saturday, their speed off the start a testimony to the effectiveness of Sean Bowden's coaching. Nick Robinson's smooth leadership from stroke justified Bowden's pre-race commendation: "Nick has some kind of natural instinct for racing, is good under pressure and has an ability to make other guys row well."
Getting drawn into a blade-tangling struggle was unhelpful to the lighter crew, but the ex-Hampton stroke man kept it going with a clean turn round the finish worthy of the best lightweights. Oxford's time was 17 seconds quicker than in any previous Boat Race.
However, this year's Cambridge crew was indomitable. They set a new record not just for the Putney-to-Mortlake trip, but for all contests over this course, smashing the 16 min 37 secs set by the national squad in the 1987 Mortlake-to-Putney Head by 18 seconds.
The Blues train to peak for this one race, whereas other top crews are looking towards Henley or international selection, so comparisons are unreliable. However, behind-the-scenes efforts to restore the world class quality of Oxbridge crews has succeeded like a dream. In the early 70s, Tideway Scullers, who were in training to represent Britain, met Cambridge in practice. "We beat them 13 lengths between Mortlake and Hammersmith Bridge," recalls Lionel Bailey. Cambridge head coach Robin Williams has brought his 1998 eight to a standard at which they have cause to fear nobody.
The conversion of potential into match-winners requires increasingly sophisticated coaching teams. The days when a waterman like the legendary Lou Barry, assisted by a team of unpaid gents, could do it have gone. Full time coaches cannot help but be influenced by contracts on offer.
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