Original 1862 University Boat Race Oar

Original 1862 University Boat Race Oar

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Oxford University Boat Race Oar 1862.
This is the most wonderful memento of the 1863 Oxford and Cambridge University boat race. The traditional presentation trophy oar is the former property of the Oxford rower, No.5 Allan Morrison. The calligraphy is beautiful and original with no repaint or repair. The oar painted with the crew's names, weights and colleges and comes with a framed triptych photograph of the 1862 crew, dated and inscribed with their names.
The oar reads:-

PUTNEY 1862

1. W.B. Woodgate, B.N.C. 11st.6lbs
2. O.S. Wynne,. Ch.Ch... 11.3
3. W.B.R. Jacobson, Ch.Ch. 12.4
4. R.E.L. Burton, Ch.Ch. 12.5
5. A. Morrison, Balliol. 12st.8lbs
6. A.R. Poole, Trinty.. 12.5
7. C.R. Carr, Wadham.. 11.2
8. W.M. Hoare,.Exeter., 11.1
F.E. Hopwood, Ch.Ch. (Cox.), 7st.3lbs

Morrison was also on the victorious side the year later and that oar is also available, as is the 1862 winning silk pennant that was awarded to the non-rowing president for the race, Allan's brother, George.

This was the 19th boat race between the crews from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. It took place on the River Thames on 12 April 1862.
The winners, Oxford, won by 10 lengths with a time of 24 minutes and 34 seconds. This race brought the overall score to 10 - 9 in Cambridge's favour.


Taken from Wickepedia.

The Oxford crew weighed an average of 11 st 11.375 lb (74.8 kg), 12.25 pounds (5.6 kg) per rower more than their Light Blue opposition. Poole and Hoare returned for the Oxford crew while Cambridge's crew featured three returning Blues in Robert Fitzgerald, Henry Collings and George Richards.
Weather conditions on the day of the race were described as "excessively cold" with "a smart breeze" although "the sun shone brilliantly". Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Middlesex station, handing the Surrey side of the river to Cambridge. The Light Blues took an early lead but Oxford were soon level with them by the time they passed the Star and Garter pub. With the steadier stroke, Oxford took the lead and were clear of Cambridge by Craven Cottage. They extended their lead further, to such an extent that even though the Light Blue cox Richards made a spurt at the Soap Works, his boat had been surrounded by the steamers, and overtaken by one. The disruption from steamers would become so severe that in the 1864 race, both boat club presidents threatened to postpone the race unless the steamers remained behind the two crews.

The Dark Blues held a three-length advantage by the time they shot Hammersmith Bridge, and despite another spurt from Cambridge off Chiswick Eyot, the lead had extended to at least 100 yards (91 m) by Barnes Bridge. Oxford won by 10 lengths in a time of 24 minutes 34 seconds. It was their third win in four years and secured Oxford's ninth win in the event compared to Cambridge's ten. Contemporary rower and author William MacMichael suggested: "Of these two crews it is scarcely necessary to say more than that if they did not reach the consummate excellence of some which we have been accustomed to look back upon as the highest standard of form and beauty, they were yet a good average specimen of University rowing.

Dimensions:

Height 381 cm / 150 "
Width 13 cm / 5 "
Depth 5.5 cm / 2 "
Period

1850-1899

Year

1862

Country

England

EXHIBITIONS
#7 - It's The Magic Number
Condition

Very Good

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