Читать книгу We’re British, Innit: An Irreverent A to Z of All Things British - Iain Aitch - Страница 20

Ostensibly a simple rowing race between two universities (see oxbridge), this contest somehow clambered its way up the roster of sporting events of national importance to sit alongside the Grand National and the FA Cup Finals and became a regularly televised spectacle. The first race between Cambridge and Oxford universities’ boat clubs was in 1829, with both teams being named ‘blues’ after the colour of their blood. The race is from Putney to Mortlake, which is 4 miles and 347 yards. The point of the race, for the general public at least, is that at least one of the boats should sink, though this has not happened in the actual race since 1978, when the light blues of Cambridge went under.