Oxford vs. Cambridge Rowing

I'm sure many of you have at least heard about the ongoing annual rowing competition between Oxford and Cambridge. It's been going on for over 175 years on the River Thames in London. The top men's teams from both universities compete this Saturday and it's televised on the BBC and I'm sure on a sports channel in the U.S.

Each college also has 3-4 different women's teams and other men's teams as well. These teams have their big annual competition the weekend before the top men compete. Which means last Sunday, Brian and I experienced our first British sport outing!

We figured it might be more enjoyable (i.e. less crowded and crazy) to watch the women's teams compete than worry about getting to London this Sunday for the main event. We also were invited to ride with two of the guys from Brian's lab, who were willing to drive - nice!

The race was in Henley, which is known at Henley-on-Thames, since the Thames river flows through it. Henley is home to many of the professional British rowing teams, so it's quite a posh place with fancy rowing clubs and regattas lined up and down the competitive stretch of river.


It was a beautiful day and was fun to just observe the friendly competition on the shores. So what seems to typically happen is you come to watch the races (about 5 races total) with either your entire family, or your entire group of friends. You bring a picnic lunch. But not just food in a brown sack, you bring the whole works. Glassware for your wine, glass cake stand for your cake at afternoon tea time, real silverware, the works. And of course, plenty of wine, tea and Pimms if you fancy that (which I'll get to in a sec).

Many of the groups of friends were current university students cheering on their mates who were rowing. Among them were guys and gals wearing special jackets (reminding me of the green jacket you win in professional golf). Oxford in navy and cream colors, Cambridge in a light green color. These jackets represent previous years a student rowed, and won in his/her race. If you win, then you earn the right to (purchase) get your own jacket. It's a big deal to wear your jacket at all competitions as it earns you very large bragging rights and the right to get piss drunk at the races. :)

Well we didn't bring a posh picnic basket, but not to fear, they have concessions stands just like in the U.S. where we could get burgers, chips (fries), sandwiches, etc. And a bar (of course) with beer, cider, hot wine and Pimms. So I had to have a Pimms, because that is the thing to drink when watching rowing or participating in punting (another leisure form of rowing down a small river/channel). It's brown in color, but sweet with a lemony flavor. Sounds good, but I wasn't too sure I liked it. It gets mixed with tonic and they put fruit/veggie pieces in it. Mine had oranges, apples and cucumber. A bit weird, but I'm getting more fond of cucumber over here.

After the races, we popped into a local pub for a pint to enjoy the sun setting on the water and then headed back to Oxford.