The conflict over eligibility criteria has rocked the accumulation of boat races, a nearly 200-year row-fire contest between the famous university along the Thames River in London and Cambridge.
Now, as the event approaches, the two rivals are hoping to settle and focus.
Three Cambridge rowers are banned from participating in next month’s race. This is because Oxford is taking on a Graduate Education Course (PGCE), which he claims to be a certificate in contrast to his degree.
The independent panel’s ruling on student eligibility in the race that sidled with Oxford, sparked complaints from people associated with longtime rivals.
“Slim” was the view of former Cambridge rower and Olympic gold medalist Imogen Grant last week.
Another member of Cambridge alumni, former world champion Lower Cass Bishop; I explained that As “a complete insanity” and as a “new low in relations” between university boat clubs.
Matt Haywood, former world champion under 23, is one of three rowers affected by the arbitration; I said it on social media This decision was not in line with “the values of sportsmanship and racial spirit that I knew in row.” He added that he felt “disappointed by the broader implications of this decision regarding my future occupation.”
Recognizing the growing controversy surrounding this year’s men’s and women’s races, the boat racing company – organizers of the contest, one of the oldest sporting events in the world – I said it on Wednesday The two clubs are sympathetic to students who cannot race, but now they want to “focus on those who are competing.”
“Following this year’s race, as always, we will review the rules and processes and meet to ensure maximum clarity for the future,” the company said. “We create rules aimed at respecting the integrity of boat races and the original spirit, balancing the ambition of talented rowers to pursue academic goals.
“Our rivalry with water is fierce and we sometimes disagree with things. This is part of what makes up the event what it is. But we have great respect for each other and that never changes.”
The men’s race between the two universities was first held in 1829. The female crew has been racing along the same 4.2 mile (6.8 km) stretch on the Thames between Putney and Mol Lake since 2015. The event usually attracted more than 200,000 spectators along Temen.
However, since the ruling that Haywood and female rowers Molly Foxel and Kate Cowley would have to sit in the race on April 13, there has been rarely such open hostility before the event.
It hurts the possibility that Cambridge won eight straight women’s races and has won sixth in the final seven men’s races. Annamarie Phelps, a chair at Light Blues’ Boat Club, said last week that she “will support athletes affected during this difficult time.”
Phelps, who said former PGCE students from both Cambridge and Oxford had previously been allowed to race, said:
However, organizers have not pointed to revised standards jointly agreed by the two competing clubs.
“And likewise,” Cambridge said in a statement released Tuesday, “We have agreed to the authority of the Independent Interpretation Panel, which is based on the interpretation of the rule that some athletes have been deemed ineligible, a decision we have accepted.”
However, in the case of grants, Oxford’s tactics were out of hand.
“As you can imagine, I do,” she said in a comment reported in British media. “This is a shame on the teacher everywhere, a desperate trick from Oxford, to gain the upper hand in the most slippery ways.
“I don’t think this reflects the current Oxford team that had to train all year round amid this uncertainty. I think this depends entirely on choosing individuals among the narrow, outdated alumni of boat racing.”
The names of the crew participating in the race were announced on Wednesday.
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