The rowers of the UK universities and the UK universities in Cambridge compete on Sunday at a boys and girls boat race, one of the world’s oldest sporting events, captivating an audience of over 200,000 people along the Thames River in London.
The men’s race was first held in 1829. The female crew has been racing along the same course between Putney and Mortlake, elsewhere in 1927 since 2015.
Here’s what you need to know about racing:
They have health warnings again
A year later, the race is back to the Thames, with concerns about the quality of the water on the 4.2-mile (6.8-kilometer) course.
Testing from March 10th River Action Campaign Group Along the river race section, we found that 29.5% of the sample exceeded the E. coli safe limit to enter the water. The group says it is almost three times the threshold for bathing water, which is rated “poor.”
Health fear I grew up ahead of last year’s race.
E. coli bacteria usually live in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Most strains are harmless, causing relatively short diarrhea, and most people recover without many incidents, According to Mayo Clinic. However, small amounts of some strains containing a bite of contaminated water can cause conditions ranging from urinary tract infections, cystitis, bowel infections, and vomiting, leading to life-threatening blood poisoning in the worst case scenario.
As a result, River Action community head Erica Popplewell said, “I strongly suggest that Sunday’s winning team think twice before throwing Cox to the Thames.”
Organizers accepted the test “indicates that there is more to do to get the waterway where we all want them.” They recommend that competitors follow the instructions of the UK rowg “inadequate water quality guidance.” This includes covering open wounds, washing your hands regularly, showering as soon as possible after the race, and “emphasizing the risk of getting into the water.”
“I’m really worried that the unsafe water quality of the Thames remains a concern in 2025,” said Steve Redgrave, a five-time Olympic gold medalist who rowed the UK.
Eligibility inherits flames
Oxford and Cambridge have long been rivals underwater, but there has been rarely much hostility between the universities heading for boat racing.
A spark flew A few weeks ago, when three Cambridge rowers were banned from attending because they were undertaking a Graduate Education Course (PGCE), Oxford argued that it was a certificate rather than a certain degree. Boat Race has an independent panel ruling on student eligibility in the race, which is on the side of Oxford.
Cambridge, one of the original row player, Olympic gold medalist Imogen Grant, described the Oxford complaint as “slimming” and described another former world champion row player, Cass Bishop, as “completely insane” and a “new relationship” between the university’s boat clubs.
Former PGCE students in Cambridge and Oxford were previously allowed to race, but the revised standards have been jointly agreed by the two clubs.
The decision weakens the crew in Cambridge, taking away Matt Haywood (boys), Molly Foxel and Kate Cowley (female).
Can the advantage of Light Blues continue?
Cambridge enjoys powerful running in boat racing on both the boys and women’s sides.
The woman has won seven races in a row, and the man is hoping for his sixth victory in the past seven races.
Overall, Cambridge leads Oxford 87-81 in men’s events – there was one death fever in 1877 – Cambridge leads 48-30 in women’s events.
There’s our flavour
Two Americans The people who rowed at the Parish Games last year are among the crew.
In the men’s race, Nick Rusher (8 men’s bronze medalists from Paris) will be seated at Oxford.
Claire Collins, who also raced at the Tokyo tournament in 2021 and was a medalist at the World Championships in 2022, is ranked in Cambridge at No. 6.
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AP Sports: https://apnews.com/sports
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