Definition
The Boat Race 1914 refers to the 71st edition of the annual Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race, a side‑by‑side rowing competition held on the River Thames in London, United Kingdom, in the year 1914.
Overview
The race took place on 31 March 1914, following the traditional Spring schedule. It was contested by the first‑eights crews of the University of Oxford (the “Dark Blues”) and the University of Cambridge (the “Light Blues”). The event was the final Boat Race before a six‑year hiatus caused by the outbreak of the First World War; the next race did not occur until 1920. Contemporary newspaper reports record that the Oxford crew won the contest.
Etymology / Origin
The term “Boat Race” is the customary shorthand for the Oxford‑Cambridge Boat Race, a rivalry that began in 1829. The addition of the year (“1914”) simply designates the specific annual iteration of this long‑standing sporting event.
Characteristics
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Date | 31 March 1914 |
| Venue | The Championship Course, a 4.2 mi (6.8 km) stretch of the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake, London |
| Participants | Eight rowers and a coxswain from each university, selected through internal trials |
| Result | Oxford won; the margin of victory and official race time are recorded in contemporary sources, though exact figures vary among reports |
| Historical significance | Marked the end of uninterrupted races from 1845 onward; the interruption caused by World War I made the 1914 race a notable historical reference point |
| Media coverage | The race was reported in national newspapers such as The Times and The Daily Telegraph, and was followed by a live crowd of spectators along the banks of the Thames |
Related Topics
- Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race – the overall series of annual races between the two universities.
- World War I and sport – the impact of the 1914–1918 conflict on sporting events in the United Kingdom.
- River Thames rowing – the tradition of competitive rowing on the Thames, including other regattas such as the Henley Royal Regatta.
- University rowing in the United Kingdom – the broader context of inter‑university rowing competitions.
Note: While the winner of the 1914 race is consistently reported as Oxford in historical accounts, precise details such as the exact finishing time and margin of victory differ among contemporary sources.