Oxford and Cambridge Cup

The Oxford and Cambridge Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the Australian University Championship Men's Eight (formerly the Australian Universities Boat Race), and is competed for annually at the Australian University Games or the Australian University Rowing Championships (in either case, commonly known as the Inter-Varsity). It is the oldest inter-University competition in Australia. The cup is awarded to the winning men's Eight over a standard 2,000m course (1.24 miles).

The Oxford and Cambridge Cup is awarded for Inter-Varsity Men's Eights in Australia.

The trophy was donated in 1893 by Old Blues of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.[1] The original boat race was conducted over a 'Thames Putney Mortlake' equivalent course, which varied between 2 miles and 3 12 miles depending on location and conditions.

History

The first Australian Universities Boat Race was raced in 1888 on the Yarra River, between the Universities of Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. The trophy was organised by Dr Edmond Warre,[2] Headmaster of Eton College and former President of the Oxford University Boat Club. He suggested to the Old Blues of Oxford and Cambridge that a trophy be donated for Inter-University Eight competition in order to foster a continuing interest in the young competition. In an 1890 letter to Frederick Halcomb (Captain of the Adelaide University Boat Club) he states that "the idea was accepted by them with alacrity" and that they were "proud of the opportunity afforded them of showing their brotherhood, goodwill and interest in the welfare of their kinsmen in the antipodes. The cup was sent out to Australia in time for the 1893 competition, where it was competed for and won by Melbourne.

The cup features scenes in bas-relief of Cambridge, Oxford, rowers and the floral emblems of the countries of England, Scotland and Wales. The Angel on the top is pictured in the traditional pose of the Toast to Rowing. This long standing and traditional toast is afforded the winners of the Grand Challenge Cup.

Inter-Varsity competition

The Australian Universities Boat Race began in 1870 when four oared crews representing Sydney and Melbourne Universities competed over a three-and-a-half-mile course on the Yarra River (Melbourne). Members of the crews also took part in the first cricket match between the two universities. The first race was won by Melbourne in 31 minutes and 4 seconds. The 2-man of the losing Sydney crew was Edmund Barton, who went on to become the first Prime Minister of Australia.

The first eight oared race between Australian Universities was conducted in 1888. Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide Universities met on the Hombourg reach course of the Yarra River. Melbourne was recorded as having won by 5 lengths over Adelaide and a similar distance to third place Sydney. Adelaide achieved its first win in 1889 at their home course on the Port River, and again in 1896 when stroked by famed South Australian oarsman W.H. Gosse. Sydney's first win was in 1890.

In 1920, Queensland University entered a crew for the first time. The crew came third. Queensland steadily improved and, under the leadership of stroke E.B. Freeman, went on to win the 1922 and 1923 boat races.

The University of Tasmania boated its first inter-varsity crew in 1924. The Taswegians took the trophy home the following year in 1925. This crew, stroked by R.A. Scott, defeated the highly fancied Sydney crew on the Brisbane River.

The West Australians followed their interstate brethren and boated their first crew in 1927. This crew, stroked by F.A. Williams, took the cup home in their debut race.

With the development of tertiary education in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s it was not long before numerous additional universities sought entry into the boat race. In 1956 New South Wales, 1963 Monash, 1966 Australian National and Newcastle, 1969 LaTrobe and 1973 Macquarie Universities gained entry. The Australian higher education reforms of the early 1990s opened the door for many former Technical Colleges and Colleges of Advanced Education to enter the boat race for the first time.

1968 was the last year that the race was held over the traditional 'Thames Putney Mortlake' equivalent course. Due to increasing pressure for a standardised course distance, fairer courses, and the increasing focus of state and national programs on the Olympic distance, delegates from the competing University Boat Clubs of 1968 voted that all future races be conducted over a 2,000m course from 1969 onward.

Results by Year

DateVenueDistanceWinnerRunner UpTimeMargin
6 October 1888Lower Yarra, VIC2.5 miMelbourneAdelaide13:054 lengths
21 December 1889Port River, SA2.5 miAdelaideMelbourne18:063 lengths
14 June 1890Lower Yarra, VIC2.5 miSydneyMelbourne13:485 lengths
4 April 1891Parramatta River, NSW3 miSydneyMelbourne17:214 lengths
23 April 1892Port River, SA3 miMelbourneSydney17:216 feet
8 April 1893Lower Yarra, VIC3 miMelbourneSydney16:052.5 lengths
28 April 1894Parramatta River, NSW3 miSydneyMelbourne17:0010 lengths
11 May 1895Port River, SA3 miSydneyMelbourne15:456 lengths
2 May 1896Lower Yarra, VIC3 miAdelaideSydney20:416 lengths
22 May 1897Parramatta River, NSW3 miSydneyMelbourne18:084 lengths
4 June 1898Port River, SA3 miSydneyAdelaide18:076 lengths
10 June 1899Lower Yarra, VIC3 miMelbourneSydney23:025 lengths
2 June 1900Parramatta River, NSW3 miSydneyAdelaide17:0154 seconds
15 June 1901Lower Yarra, VIC3 miSydneyMelbourne16:480.5 lengths
14 June 1902Port River, SA3 miSydneyMelbourne16:443 lengths
6 June 1903Parramatta River, NSW3 miSydneyMelbourne15:365 lengths
4 June 1904Lower Yarra, VIC3 miMelbourneAdelaide18:013 lengths
10 June 1905Port River, SA3 miSydneyAdelaide17:375 lengths
9 June 1906Parramatta River, NSW3 miMelbourneSydney15:153 lengths
9 June 1907Lower Yarra, VIC3 miSydneyMelbourne15:532 lengths
6 June 1908Port River, SA3 miSydneyMelbourne15:452 lengths
9 June 1909Parramatta River, NSW3 miSydneyMelbourne15:505 lengths
7 June 1910Lower Yarra, VIC2.5 miAdelaideSydney17:354 lengths
10 June 1911Port River, SA3 miMelbourneSydney16:291.5 lengths
1 June 1912Parramatta River, NSW3 miMelbourneSydney17:003 lengths
7 June 1913Lower Yarra, VIC2.5 miMelbourneSydney15:116 lengths
6 June 1914Port River, SA3 miMelbourneAdelaide17:467 lengths
1915–1918 World War I – No competition
29 August 1919Parramatta River, NSW3 mi 167ydMelbourneSydney19:34.53 lengths
29 May 1920Lower Yarra, VIC2.5 miAdelaideMelbourne14:531.5 lengths
31 May 1921Brisbane River, QLD3 miMelbourneQueensland17:231 length
3 June 1922Port River, SA3 miQueenslandMelbourne17:214 lengths
1 June 1923Parramatta River, NSW3 mi 167ydQueenslandAdelaide17:434 lengths
31 May 1924Lower Yarra, VIC2.5 miMelbourneQueensland16:140.5 length
6 June 1925Brisbane River, QLD3 miTasmaniaSydney17:562.5 lengths
3 June 1926Huon River, TAS3 miSydneyMelbourne?3/4 length
4 June 1927Nepean River, NSW3 miWestern AustraliaMelbourne19:301.5 lengths
2 June 1928Mannum, SA3 miWestern AustraliaMelbourne16:432 lengths
1 June 1929Lower Yarra, VIC2.5 miMelbourneAdelaide14:273.5 lengths
7 June 1930Swan River, WA3 miWestern AustraliaAdelaide19:573/4 length
3 June 1931Brisbane River, QLD3 miSydneyQueensland17:4012 lengths
1932Huon River, TAS3 miWestern AustraliaSydney17:195 lengths
3 June 1933Nepean River, NSW3 miSydneyAdelaide16:292 lengths
2 June 1934Mannum, SA3 miAdelaideSydney15:307 lengths
8 June 1935Lower Yarra, VIC2.5 miSydneyMelbourne15:171/3 length
6 June 1936Swan River, WA2 miSydneyWestern Australia12:303 lengths
5 June 1937Brisbane River, QLD3 miSydneyTasmania17:002.5 lengths
4 June 1938Huon River, TAS3 miSydneyMelbourne15:441.5 lengths
3 June 1939Nepean River, NSW3 miMelbourneSydney16:381.5 lengths
1 June 1940Nepean River, NSW3 miMelbourneSydney16:574 lengths
1941–1945 World War II – No competition
8 June 1946Mannum, SA3 miSydneyAdelaide17:581 length
7 June 1947Nepean River, NSW3 miSydneyMelbourne16:511.5 lengths
5 June 1948Swan River, WA2 miSydneyWestern Australia12:11Unknown
1949Brisbane River, QLD<2 miSydneyMelbourne11:002 lengths
3 June 1950Lower Yarra, VIC2 miMelbourneSydney10:503 lengths
30 May 1951Huon River, TAS3 mi= Melbourne= Sydney14:46Dead heat
7 June 1952Murray Bridge, SA3 miMelbourneSydney17:212.5 lengths
5 June 1953Nepean River, NSW3 miMelbourneWestern Australia16:130.5 lengths
5 June 1954Swan River, WA2 miMelbourneWestern Australia11:381.5 lengths
4 June 1955Brisbane River, QLD3 miMelbourneQueensland17:54.58 lengths
2 June 1956Lower Yarra, VIC2.25 miMelbourneWestern Australia13:074 lengths
7 June 1957Derwent River, TAS3 miMelbourneQueensland15:312 lengths
1958Port River, SA3 miQueenslandMelbourne17:484.75 lengths
30 May 1959Nepean River, NSW3 miQueenslandSydney16:05.50.25 lengths
1 June 1960Swan River, WA2 miSydneyMelbourne10:21.82 lengths
27 May 1961Brisbane River, QLD2 miSydneyNew South Wales11:054 lengths
26 May 1962Nepean River, NSW3 miSydneyMelbourne15:300.75 lengths
25 May 1963Lower Yarra, VIC2.25 miMelbourneSydney12:14.54 lengths
30 May 1964Huon River, TAS2.25 miSydneyMelbourne15:395.4 sec
1965 No competition
28 May 1966Mannum, SA3 miTasmaniaNew South Wales16:102 lengths
27 May 1967Nepean River, NSW3 miMelbourneTasmania15:55.10.75 lengths
25 May 1968Canning River, WA2 mi 88'MelbourneAdelaide10:05.30.5 sec
31 May 1969Lake Wendouree, VIC2000mMelbourneSydney6:26.91 length
23 May 1970Lake Burley Griffin, ACT2000mMelbourneSydney6:38.91.75 lengths
22 May 1971Lake Kurwongbah, QLD2000mMonashSydney6:35.00.1 sec
27 May 1972Taree, NSW2000mMonashSydney7:33.01.25 lengths
19 May 1973Mildura, VIC2000mMonashMelbourne5:31.20.05 sec
25 May 1974Nepean River, NSW2000mAdelaideMelbourne5:39.45.0 sec
17 May 1975Huon River, TAS2000mMelbourneTasmania5:57.43.0 sec
15 May 1976Lake Wendouree, VIC2000mTasmaniaAdelaide6:21.61 length
22 May 1977West Lakes, SA2000mMelbourneAdelaide6:390.75 lengths
20 May 1978Nepean River, NSW2000mMonashAdelaide5:58.15.5 sec
19 May 1979Hinze Dam, QLD2000mAdelaideSydney6:012.3 sec
17 May 1980Lake Burley Griffin, ACT1800mMelbourneSydney5:31.9*1.9 sec
16 May 1981Canning River, WA2000mMelbourneQueensland6:13.11.8 sec
15 May 1982Lake Wendouree, VIC2000mMelbourneSydney6:22.05.1 sec
21 May 1983Middle Harbour, NSW2000mSydneyNew South Wales5:58.47.8 sec
19 May 1984Lake Barrington, TAS2000mMelbourneSydney6:11.561.96 sec
18 May 1985Lake Wendouree, VIC2000mMelbourneMonash6:25.036.3 sec
17 May 1986West Lakes, SA2000mTasmaniaMelbourne6:41.341.73 sec
1987Nepean River, NSW2000mMonashSydney6:03.07.5 sec
14 May 1988Lake Wivenhoe, QLD2000mMelbourneMonash6:18.04.0 sec
8 July 1989Carrum, VIC2000mMonashMelbourne6:22.76.0 sec
7 July 1990Lake Wivenhoe, QLD2000mQueenslandAdelaide5:55.51.2 sec
5 October 1991Nepean River, NSW2000mQueenslandMelbourne6:12.368.10 sec
3 October 1992West Lakes, SA2000mQueenslandAdelaide6:48.997.0 sec
2 October 1993Wellington Dam, WA2000mSydneyTasmaniaUnknownUnknown
1 October 1994Lake Barrington, TAS2000mTasmaniaSydneyUnknownUnknown
1995Lake Wendouree, VIC2000mMelbourneQueensland5:53.952.5 lengths
2 October 1996Lake Burley Griffin, ACT1800mU.T.S.Adelaide5.38.26*3.3 sec
4 October 1997Penrith Lakes, NSW2000mWestern AustraliaU.T.S.5:54.215.15 sec
3 October 1998West Lakes, SA2000mWestern AustraliaMelbourne5:49.953.35 sec
1999Lake Wendouree, VIC2000mMelbourneSydneyUnknownUnknown
6 October 2000Lake Wendouree, VIC2000mMelbourneMonashUnknownUnknown
28 September 2001Penrith Lakes, NSW2000mMelbourneSydney5:55.930.53 sec
2002Lake Wendouree, VIC2000mU.T.S.Melbourne5:53.070.43 sec
4 October 2003Lake Wivenhoe, QLD2000mU.T.S.Sydney5:41.00.75 lengths
2004Lake Barrington, TAS2000mSydneyAdelaide5:57.203.18 sec
September 2005Hinze Dam, QLD2000mSydneyQueensland5:51.623.08 sec
30 September 2006Penrith Lakes, NSW2000mSydneyAdelaide5:51.760.64 sec
29 September 2007Hinze Dam, QLD2000mSydneyAdelaide6:13.007.97 sec
3 October 2008Penrith Lakes, NSW2000mQueenslandSydney6:56.034.95 sec
3 October 2009Lake Burley Griffen, ACT1800mAdelaideSydney5:10.093.39 sec
1 October 2010Champion Lakes, WA2000mAdelaideSydney5:47.90.6 sec
30 September 2011[3]Penrith Lakes, NSW2000mMelbourneAdelaide6:20.3711.1 sec
28 September 2012[4]West Lakes, SA2000mAdelaideMelbourne6:02.2711.8 sec
4 October 2013[5]Lake Wendouree, VIC2000mSydneyAdelaide5:57.977.02 sec
3 October 2014[6]Penrith Lakes, NSW2000mSydneyMonash5:59.403.57 sec
2 October 2015[7]West Lakes, SA2000mSydneyAdelaide6:16.4011.05 sec
30 September 2016[8]Champion Lakes, WA2000mAdelaideSydney5:43.351.25 sec
29 September 2017[9]Wyaralong Dam, QLD2000mSydneyMelbourne6.02.293.3 sec
27 September 2018[10]Wyaralong Dam, QLD2000mSydneyMelbourne5:43.536.44 sec
3 October 2019[11]Wyaralong Dam, QLD2000mU.T.S.Sydney5:49.853.37 sec

Running total

The Oxford and Cambridge Cup has been won by eight universities since the inception of the competition. Melbourne and Sydney Universities have dominated, between them winning about two-thirds of the time. It has been won at least once by every state, but neither of the territories. All of Australia's "sandstone universities" have won the cup, and of the Group of Eight universities, the University of New South Wales is the only one not yet to have achieved a win.

The 121st race was conducted in 2018.

RankUniversityTimes winnerTimes runner upFirst winLast win
1Melbourne423518882011
2Sydney413818902018
3Adelaide112418892016
4Queensland8819222008
5Western Australia6519271998
6Monash6419711989
7Tasmania5419251994
8U.T.S.4119962019

References

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