The Boat Race

[Tongo]

Not at all. For me it's one that is played by the perceived upper classes and / or more affluent, as opposed to those played by all stratas of society.

I might be blinded by my own fascination with golf - but let me ask a completely genuine question.

Compared to rowing or showjumping is golf really just as elitist as either?

I'd hazard a guess that up until the early 90's it was fairly elitist in this country.

And is rowing really that elitist? I know of a couple of clubs based along the Itchen here in Southampton and have seen rowers on the river quite often. And Southampton's hardly a bastion of middle-class Britain.

 

[JohnnyDee]

I'd hazard a guess that up until the early 90's it was fairly elitist in this country.

And is rowing really that elitist? I know of a couple of clubs based along the Itchen here in Southampton and have seen rowers on the river quite often. And Southampton's hardly a bastion of middle-class Britain.

I guess I'm talking about achievement at a high level in rowing more than just simple participation. High achieving golfers seem to come from all levels of society, whereas rowers and show jumpers seem to be definitely "better bred" although Harvey Smith may well have been the exception to prove the rule.

No data to hang it on but I bet the amount of casual golfers by far and away outstrips the amount casual oarsmen here in the UK.

 

[dewsweeper]

None in our golf club either as far as I know.
Not sure about the ladies section.
In answer to post 4

 

[dewsweeper]

It's a race between two of the elitist Uni's in the country - it's only ever going to be that way

Is that a plus or a minus then Phill?
You surely do not believe we are all equal in ability do you.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Is that a plus or a minus then Phill?
You surely do not believe we are all equal in ability do you.

It's the boat race - it's always going to be between Oxford and Cambridge - that's the whole idea

And not sure what the highlighted has to do with the thread ?

 

[dewsweeper]

Elitist universities is in your post.
By that description I read in you do not think Oxbridge entry is open to all.
Was your Sergeants Mess open to other ranks?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Elitist universities is in your post.
By that description I read in you do not think Oxbridge entry is open to all.
Was your Sergeants Mess open to other ranks?

Oxbridge I have no doubt won't be open to all and indeed know people who have been turned down even though their results are clearly good enough but that's the Uni's right to allow who they want it.

Our SGT mess was open to SGT's unless there was any specific events that allowed other ranks in but not sure the relevance

 

[AmandaJR]

I love the boat race and all its history and tradition. A sporting event I always look forward to. The athletes are truly supreme and amazingly fit - they work damned hard to be at their physical peak (whether they're posh or not)!

Even better when Cambridge win

 

[JohnnyDee]

I love the boat race and all its history and tradition. A sporting event I always look forward to. The athletes are truly supreme and amazingly fit - they work damned hard to be at their physical peak (whether they're posh or not)!

Even better when Cambridge win

Can't fault that. And indeed back in the 60s as a grubby guttersnipe from Europe's then biggest housing estate I too have loved the boat race. Thanks in no small part to it being down to my love of PG Wodehouse and the ex-military BBC top brass executives showing me what was best for me, along with the showjumping too of course.

The rowing athletes are indeed amazingly fit but outside the rarified environs of their own small and very narrow field of experience then they scarcely even exist within the wider world.

 

[Fish]

I'd watch the boat race with as much interest as watching a bunch of loons running down a hill chasing a lump of cheese 😉

 

[Crow]

I'd watch the boat race with as much interest as watching a bunch of loons running down a hill chasing a lump of cheese 😉

Now you're talking!

 

[jp5]

The rowing athletes are indeed amazingly fit but outside the rarified environs of their own small and very narrow field of experience then they scarcely even exist within the wider world.

Eh?! The boat race rowers are right up there in the upper echelons of sporting and academic achievers. Hard pushed to find more talented individuals with incredible prospects.

 

[richart]

Hugh Lawrie rowed in the boat race. That's about all I know about it.