The idea for a rowing race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge came from two friends - Charles Merivale, a student at Cambridge, and his Harrow schoolfriend Charles Wordsworth, who was at Oxford. On 12 March 1829, Cambridge sent a challenge to Oxford and thus the tradition was born which has continued to the present day, where the loser of the previous year’s race challenges the opposition to a re-match.
The 2 university rowing teams have been racing down the Thames since 1829. Last year, Cambridge beat rivals Oxford, preventing the Blues from gaining a hat-trick. As a result, Cambridge now lead the series 79 to 73 with only 1 dead heat since they first race in 1829.
As one of the few free sporting spectacles in London, the Boat Race creates a festival atmosphere on the banks of the River Thames and marks the start of the English "social season". Thousands of people flock to the river each year to join in the celebrations and watch the Oxford and Cambridge University crews as they race over the famous 4-and-a-quarter mile course from Putney to Mortlake. This year the race will be held on the 29th March.
The 154th Boat Race takes place on Saturday, 29 March 2008 at 17.15, with the toss taking place at 15.25. The Isis Goldie Race will take place at 4.45pm. Supporters and fans staying at the Rembrandt Hotel can find a place to watch on either side of the river along the full length of the course, but particular areas to note are: Putney Bridge and Embankment (at the start), Hammersmith (mid-course) and Chiswick Bridge (at the finish).
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