The Oxford-Cambridge Henley Boat Races
The JP Morgan Race Day
Where else to soak up a bit of English culture than a the Henley-on-Thames boat races?
Sunday March 30th is the first day of the race series, with the Women's races and men's light-weight rowing races. The following weekend the "blues" men's races are held which are much more widely covered by the news media and attract very large crowds, but that's England for you.
Rivalry between schools and universities seems to grow with the age of the schools, and, although sometimes contrived, can both motivate and entertain.
Rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge Universities goes back centuries and these races follow that pattern.
This race day has a short history by English standards, the first Women's Blue Boat Races were held in 1927 (Oxford) and carrried on until now with a break of ten years (1953 to 1963) when there were no races.
This year the weather was beautiful, wide blue skies with bright sun and a light breeze. So nice in fact that it was hard take photographs into the sun!
We were at the Remenham club house towards the finish of the course, but not at the end. A path runs beside the Thames all the way along the course on the south side, and the hospitality tents are pitched on what might be flood banks, raised ridges behind the paths.
Many of the younger members of the crowd are wearing university blazers and school and university ties (both men and women). They yell loud support for their university as the race goes by and in between chat over champaign and canapes confident of their place in the world on a sunny afternoon. This is pleasant time out from work and world affairs, and in the case of investment brokers away from the fraught scene of world finances.
One of the less attractive aspects of the crowd are the "mothers"...loud women, demanding entry into areas reserved for others in haughty voices -- quite unlike the genteel politeness you might expect in such a cultured world, but nevertheless, discreetly turned away.
Overall a delightful and pleasant afternoon, and a great place to meet Europeans, also looking to sample the English life and great to see a group pf young women and men having the time of their lives, studying at great universities and living their lives to the full.
Oxford women rowing If you have ideas about good places to go please email me.